Oct 07 2009
The Blame Game
The Blame Game
by Pastor Steve Murrel
It has been one week since Typhoon Ondoy baptized Manila in chaos - destroying homes and displacing 2 million people.
While thousands of ordinary people were generously giving and sacrificially serving those in need, others were busy playing the blame game. According to the blame-fixers, those responsible for the floods include: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the mayors, the senate, the congress, all sinners, God, the devil, global warming, Al Gore (the inventor of global warming), Osama bin Laden, Abu Sayyaf, Ahmajinedad, Gaddafi, Kanye West and former US president Bush (poor guy gets blamed for everything).
On my Nashville to Manila flight a couple of days ago - in order to gain some insights about suffering - I read the whole book of Job, the story of a man who lost it all, then some.
Here are my random Job notes from 30,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean.
1. Bad things happen to seemingly good and innocent people. Four times Job is described as “blameless and upright” yet he experienced horrible suffering.
2. The devil is real and he comes to “steal, kill and destroy.” Chapter 1 makes it clear that all Job’s pain and loss was an act of the devil, not an act of God.
3. People experiencing bad times need good friends. When you have friends who are suffering, try doing what Job’s friends did in Job 2:13 “Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.”
4. Good friends often give bad counsel. Unfortunately, after that week of silence, Job’s friends opened their mouths and stuck both feet in, nasty shoes and all.
5. Some things can’t be explained and some “why?” questions can’t be answered. The book of Job never answers the “why?” question. But is does paint a good picture of “how” - how to find God in our pain and how to respond to calamity.
6. We can find God in our pain and loss, if we do what Job did when he realized the extent of his loss - “then he fell to the ground in worship…” Do we only worship God in the good times?
7. In the end, the blessing of God caught up with and overtook Job. Most people don’t press through and read the whole book of Job. But if you endure til the end, you will find that “the Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former.” Job 42:12 And if we endure past our pain, we will find God in the end.
——-
Now my opinion about this:
1. Yeah. Bad things happened seemingly good and innocent people. Actually a certain leader once said, “It seems that when you’re right in front of God. You are wrong in front the people” ^^;; When you want to do right things, people will misunderstood you. (kekeke…) and when you want to expose the wrong thing, you’ll get blame and become the “bad person” ^^;;
2. Amen Pastor Steve, All the sufferings and pains are an act of the devil. God doesn’t want us to suffer. So I really don’t believe in the people saying, “God has given me sickness so that I can be helpful and I can become strong” waaa… ^^;;
3. Yep. When you experience bad times, you need to have good friends. But friends that you can trust on.
4. Painfully but true. Most of the times, Good friends often give bad counsel. So I have learned that when you help your friend, help him or her. Then be alert of your actions. Do not gossip or say anything to your other friends. Don’t share this secret to others (even though your intention is good.) Just pray and don’t speak. Whaaa… also a positive word is ok and backstabbing is no no.
5. yep. If the questions cannot be explain? Don’t bother to ask. In God’s timing everything will be revealed. Amen!
6. Pastor Emer said last sunday, that we are not storm-free but storm-proof. And during our Storms in life, during pain and loss. We can find God and God will manifest in us (if we give it all to Him). It’s a means of testing and a testimony.
7. This is what I LOVE! teehee. A quote once said… after the rain comes the rainbow. Every problem has a solution. Every suffering has an ending. And if we hold onto God in every problem we have, He will blessed us more than what we expect and the blessing of the latter part is more than the former.
Thank you pastor steve and Pastor emer for the wonderful insights ^^
We thank God for your Life pastor steve and Pastor Emer
So what about yours??
