Some people believe that when bad stuff happens to you, it’s always because of some secret sin in your life. But that’s not true, as the Bible affirms.
Elizabeth and Zechariah weren’t bad people.
The Bible says that Elizabeth and Zechariah were “righteous” people, and yet they lived to be very old without kids, which was disappointing and even shameful in their day. For many years they had bad luck, yet they weren’t bad people. God had a plan and made their long wait worth it when they miraculously had a child in their old age.
Luke 1:6-7 (ESV) And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
The Apostle Paul was not a bad person.
Paul was one of the most godly and influential Christians of all time, and yet God allowed him to have a “thorn in the flesh”. We don’t know exactly what that was, but it certainly must have felt like bad luck. Yet God used it to humble Paul and show his grace.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (ESV) 7So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Sometimes bad stuff just happens to good people.
The bottom line is that bad stuff sometimes happens to good people and good stuff sometimes happens to bad people. Connecting bad luck to a sin issue is not always responsible or biblical. There are certainly times when God rebukes or punishes those with unrepentant attitudes. But in many cases bad luck is just that – bad luck. Don’t overspirtualize it. Seek God in everything, and trust him even in the bad times.
Discussion Questions:
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- Has anyone ever told you that the bad things in your life are the result of your sin? How did you respond? Do you think it was true?
- Describe a time when you just had bad luck. How did you handle it? Were you angry at God? Why or why not?
- Describe a time when you brought bad luck upon yourself because of your poor choices.
- Describe an instance when sickness or death was the result of (1) bad luck or (2) bad choices.
- Why is it dangerous to believe that bad luck means you’re a bad person? Do you know anyone to teaches or believes this?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
