How do good things happen to bad people?

[water]

Sorry ThisOne, I have no intentions of praying for him. He ruined my life and he deserves to rot in hell. Having said that, I don’t wish him to rot in hell, but he deserves it. Perhaps you could pray for him instead?!

Remember that no one deserves to be in Heaven if it was not for the Greatest Mercy of God.

Pray for others as Jesus prayed for you when He was with us. He prayed for those who betrayed Him, beat Him, and killed Him.

Who are those that He was praying for?

• it is me and you, and the one who ruined your life.

Jesus has shown us His unselfishness, why can’t we do the same toward others for His Name?

We ought to pray for one another - that is the kind of Love Jesus wants us to follow.

God bless.

 

[jrabs]

I’ve spent a lot of time in confession over my anger. What I have learned is that I must pray for this person, because God loves her and desires her salvation. Nothing separates us (even the greatest of sinners) from the love of God. So, if my will is to be conformed to God’s, I must pray for her salvation.

To be very practical, if I hold onto my anger and wish her to burn in hell for all eternity, and she does, I will end up right there beside her. On the other hand, if I pray for her, and she sincerely repents and goes to heaven, she will not be the same person who hurt me. She will be perfected in charity, exactly what God intended her to be from the start, before she did anything wrong. If I also make it to heaven, we can be together in perfect harmony because of the forgiveness and restoration that God gives us. Again, practically speaking, this will be a much better situation than being with her in hell, where we both will be holding on to our hatred for each other.

So when I am reminded of her, I pray for her, without allowing myself to wallow in the bad feelings that memory conjures up. I just commend her to God’s mercy and move on mentally. God knows this is the best I can do right now. Perhaps someday I will have a genuine affection for her.

Betsy

Absolutely fabulous post, Betsy.

For those who have been deeply hurt and have a hard time forgiving, moving forward, or need to stop obsessing - please re-read Baltobetsy’s post slowly.

She has the key to moving forward in Christ’s name.
No, it’s not easy but your rewards will be great.

 

[distracted]

i sometimes think God allows Christians to go through really hard stuff… so that they will either choose to continue loving him or turn their backs on him…

We are tried by fire… like gold…

That said, a lot of the hard stuff we go through… no, probaby ALL of the hard stuff we go through, is the result of sin- If not our own sin, definitely the sins of others around us… (and before us, etc…)… In htis life, it’s all about sin… Meaning, that that is virtually our “only problem”.

 

[blessedstar]

God allows good things to happen to all people because:

1 We are all sinners and God loves all people

2 God also blesses all people with the cross so no-one is free of suffering, this too is a good thing.

3 Some people have all happiness here because they will have no eternal happiness, this is a kindness and mercy of God

4 God sometimes showers people with good things because after a time they will find that they still do not feel fulfilled because the spirit is not nourished by all these good worldly things. If a soul receives a glut of worldly good things they can grow to feel that they have everything and still have nothing. God draws the soul to Him in this.

5 God gives good things because He will not be outdone in generosity. It is hard to give to one who gives you nothing and this is what God does, He gives to those who give little or nothing to Him. He also gives to those who give Him alot or everything of themselves. His generosity is beyond all generosity.

6 God can only give good things, He cannot give bad things.

I am sure there are more reasons, but everything God does is to bring us to Him. Be generous to your ex husband in prayer; pray that God give every good thing to your ex husband blessing him greatly and I will pray for you and for him.

 

[Kevin42]

I haven’t read any posts besides the OP, so I’m just going to post my thoughts on that.

Is having financial stability and doing well with money a real blessing? In terms of eternity, it seems like this would only be a possible danger to your soul as opposed to a blessing. Try looking at all of this a different way.All those who suffer for Christ are the ones that are truly blessed. Those who are evil are only “blessed” with worldly things, and they have received their reward on this world. Those who suffer for Christ’s sake and participate in the beatitudes are truly blessed ones because they are the ones close to Jesus. Although they may suffer here, they will receive their reward in eternity, worshiping and participating in God’s love.

It alllll has to do with your perspective! You are the truly blessed one!

 

[Lexee15]

From reading many of the replies it really seems that it’s best to be poor or struggling. What if you’re a pretty decent person and are blessed with a good job and make good money or became independently wealthy by your hard work…what then? What is your responsibility then? If you’re a person who knows that everything you have is a blessing and you give glory to God for what you have, what else then? There are good people who have money, what more do they have to do since they aren’t necessarily suffering in a material way?

 

[mariam1976]

From reading many of the replies it really seems that it’s best to be poor or struggling. What if you’re a pretty decent person and are blessed with a good job and make good money or became independently wealthy by your hard work…what then? What is your responsibility then? If you’re a person who knows that everything you have is a blessing and you give glory to God for what you have, what else then? There are good people who have money, what more do they have to do since they aren’t necessarily suffering in a material way?

i dont think just becos people are not poor, they do not have a cross to bear… when you really look at a person - for instance all the rich people in the world, they are running after drugs and alcohol and everything else… it is becos they are not happy or do not find joy in the Lord. So it is not money that makes a difference but joy in the Lord… So you have to be a good person… thats it…

poor people are unhappy… rich are unhappy too…

 

[Kevin42]

I hope I didn’t imply too strongly that money, or people who have money, are necessarily evil. I just meant money has several ways that could potentially endanger a persons soul. I mean I certainly would not mind it if I didn’t have to struggle with money, but if I did, then so be it. I just think worldly things have potential to be dangerous, and so are not necessarily blessings. However, like the poster above me said, I think it’s really all about your attitude and how you use it. Everything we do should aim for the glorification of God, our money, or our poverty.

Now, if only I could live by that rule a little better:blush: .

 

[mariam1976]

I hope I didn’t imply too strongly that money, or people who have money, are necessarily evil. I just meant money has several ways that could potentially endanger a persons soul. I mean I certainly would not mind it if I didn’t have to struggle with money, but if I did, then so be it. I just think worldly things have potential to be dangerous, and so are not necessarily blessings. However, like the poster above me said, I think it’s really all about your attitude and how you use it. Everything we do should aim for the glorification of God, our money, or our poverty.

Now, if only I could live by that rule a little better:blush: .

i may have taken it wrong… might be a little biased in that aspect… i know money is bad as i have seen what it can do…

sorry if i came across a bit harsh…

it definitely has the potential to be very dangerous and like Jesus said, it will be easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than a rich man to get into heaven… He definitely knew what he was talking about!!!