All Things Work Together For Good

Today I want to take a look at one of the most well-known verses in the Bible. The reason I want to do this is because I believe this verse has been completely misinterpreted in this age of me-centric Christianity. Our culture has taught us to think that “it’s all about me”, and that has had a severe impact on our ability to understand the Bible.

The verse that I want to discuss is this one:

Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

When the modern generation reads this verse they interpret it like this: “All of the trials in life are just the road I have to take to get to a better life. I am going through a rough spot now, but on the other side of this trial my life is going to be a lot better.” As far as today’s generation goes, the verse might as well read like this: “And we know that all things work together for my personal benefit, so that my life might be made better.”

But is that really true? Is that actually what that verse means? I think the answer is a resounding no. In our fervent desire to make everything about ourselves, the true meaning of this verse has become lost. The truth of the matter is quite different.

When people think of this verse they tend to think of two examples: Joseph and Job. Joseph, as you may recall, was sold into slavery by his brothers. Eventually that led to a series of circumstances that put him in charge of Egypt. Joseph went from being sold as a slave (and later being put in prison) to being second in command over the entire country; he went from being impoverished in prison to being royalty.

Job’s case is a little different, but the story ends in a similar way. Job went through some terrible trials; he lost his health, his family, and his wealth. However, after the trial is over Job got everything back, and he became an even greater man than he was before. The trials of both Job and Joseph led to personal enrichment and wealth – which enforces the common interpretation of Romans 8:28.

But does that really happen every single time? Do all trials end in fame, fortune, and personal enrichment? Do all trials result in a better life? Well, let’s stop and think about that for a moment, and look at a few other famous Biblical characters.

In the Old Testament there was a prophet by the name of Ezekiel. He was a righteous and faithful man, and he served the Lord all his life. When the Lord gave him a message he delivered it; when the Lord gave him a command he obeyed. There came a time when Ezekiel was faced with a great trial. God told him that He was going to kill Ezekiel’s wife (whom he loved very much), and He commanded Ezekiel not to mourn over her death:

Ezekiel 24:15: “Also the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
16 Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.
17 Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.
18 So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.”

The reason the Lord did this was to warn the people of Israel that terrible judgment was coming. Ezekiel’s actions were a very graphic and potent sign of what was to come. The trial was very difficult and painful for Ezekiel, but that was the entire point:

Ezekiel 24:21: “Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.
22 And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.
23 And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.
24 Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord God.”

So, after this trial was over, did Ezekiel get his wife back? No. Did God give him another wife? No. Did Ezekiel’s life improve now that his wife was gone? No. The reason God did this was not to improve Ezekiel’s life, but to warn the entire nation that if they did not repent God would send a terrible judgment upon them. God did this for the benefit of the nation, not for the benefit of Ezekiel.

Another example of someone who suffered greatly is the apostle Paul. During the course of his ministry he experienced countless trials and hardships:

2 Corinthians 11:24: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”

That is some pretty severe torment! So did these sufferings enrich Paul’s life? Did they lead to fame and fortune? Was his life improved by the beatings and imprisonments that he received? Not exactly. The apostle tells us that all of these things actually happened for a very different reason – to further the spreading of the gospel:

Philippians 1:12: “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

According to Paul himself, the many trials that he faced were not for his benefit, but were to further the gospel itself. Ezekiel’s trials were likewise not for his benefit, but were to warn the nation of Israel to repent.

Which brings us back to Joseph. According to Joseph himself, the reason all those terrible things befell him was not so that he could one day be royalty and live a fabulous life. They instead happened so that God could save the lives of many people:

Genesis 50:19: “And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

Why did God afflict Joseph? In order to save the lives of his family – the very people who hated him, persecuted him, and sold him into slavery. God put Joseph through a terrible ordeal in order to save Joseph’s enemies. It wasn’t about Joseph at all.

We can find something similar in the story of Job. One of the things that people tend to overlook is that Job is not the only person in the story who suffered. A lot of people lost their lives:

Job 1:14: “And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”

When God tried Job’s faith, He allowed Satan to kill Job’s servants and children. In other words, the reason Job’s children had to die was not to benefit them, but was to benefit Job. All of those people died in order to benefit someone else.

That is the point that we miss. It is absolutely true that all things work together for good, for those who love God. However, what we forget is that sometimes the good is for someone else and not ourselves. Ezekiel suffered in order to warn the Israelites. Paul suffered so that the gospel might be spread. Joseph suffered to save the lives of many. Job’s children died so that Job’s faith could be tested.

Now, I am not saying that our trials never result in personal blessings. There are indeed times when the trials in our life are followed by periods of blessing – and there are examples of that throughout the Bible. It is also true that when we suffer for the sake of Christ, we will receive Heavenly rewards.

My point is that we tend to think that everything that happens to us is somehow about us. We also think that when God sends us a trial, the next thing He will send is a great blessing that makes everything better. We overlook the many godly people who suffered and saw no reward for it:

Hebrews 11:36: “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”

A great many saints have suffered terrible things throughout history, and many of them only saw their circumstances get worse. Prophets boldly proclaimed the word of the Lord and were thrown into prison for it. Apostles preached the gospel and were then executed for their faith. These people assuredly received Heavenly rewards, but let’s be honest: when people think about Romans 8:28 that’s not what they have in mind. We have this idea that our Earthly sufferings will be followed by Earthly blessings – and we forget the many, many people who suffered greatly and saw no such physical blessings.

In closing, let me say that we need to remember that it isn’t always about us. Sometimes God works through us to bless those who are around us. Sometimes God puts us through great trials so that others can be enriched. Sometimes we must suffer so that others can be saved. God does not always repay Earthly trials with Earthly riches. I think it is most unwise to believe that everything that happens to you happens for your temporal, earthly benefit. As we have seen, sometimes God has a very different plan in mind.