An Heir to Chastisements

Imagine with me a bereaved family gathered together in their lawyer’s office. They are grieving the loss of their beloved patriarch. Their eyes are red with sadness as the lawyer opens the will and begins to read:

“I leave to my precious grandchildren a lifetime of unavoidable trials.

“I leave to my dear sons my substantial bank account of afflictions.

“I leave to my cherished daughters a special chest filled with hardships.

“I leave to my beloved wife all the insults and slander I have experienced in this life.”

Tears are replaced with shocked expressions. Grief is overtaken by sudden urges to check marriage and birth records to verify family affiliations. After all, these are not the gifts devoted heirs anticipate. Normal expectations likely drift toward a handsome sum of money, a house, jewelry. Maybe a secret recipe or a sentimental heirloom. But never an unlimited supply of troubles.

~~~

I recently came across the idea of being an heir to chastisements in a devotion by Charles Spurgeon. It brought to my mind how I sometimes entertain faulty thinking about problems. It looks like this: When I sail through a day smoothly with no hiccups (and, sadly, that is often my goal), I feel as though I’ve done something right. But if problems disrupt my life, I wonder where I messed up. This daily assessment does not fit with my deeply-held belief that trials and tribulations are a nonnegotiable part of life.

I need to make a distinction here. There are hardships and sufferings common to everyone because we live in a sin-filled world. Though God uses these for our good (Romans 8:28), I am referring more specifically to the suffering that Jesus told his followers to expect.

Jesus clearly stated to his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble . . .” (John 16:33). Not “you might have trouble” or “on rare occasions you will have trouble” or “I hope you won’t have trouble”—but, “you will have trouble.” The disciples understood this was a definite part of following Jesus. Peter wrote to other followers of Christ, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). Trials are to be expected.

Peter also wrote, “²⁰. . . if you suffer for doing  good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ²¹To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 20:20-21). If Jesus, who did no wrong (2 Corinthians 5:21), suffered for doing good—for being obedient to his Father—how can we expect to live easy, problem-free lives?

Charles Spurgeon said of God’s people, “Freedom from sickness and the pains of mortality was never promised them; but when their Lord drew up the charter of privileges, He included chastisements amongst the things to which they should inevitably be heirs.” [1]

Why did our loving God promise his children a life of trials? Couldn’t he have made it easier for us than it was for him? Why is the hardship component included in his family package? Perhaps God knows some things we don’t . . .

God knows trials will help us mature spiritually. James said, “²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

With each new trial, we make a fresh choice. Do we take the easy way of doing our own thing? Or do we take the path of trusting that God is in control and follow his guidance? Each time we choose the latter and persevere through a trial with God, we become increasingly more mature in our walk with him.

God knows affliction can teach us his Word. “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word . . . It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees” (Psalm 119:67, 71). The psalmist knew the benefit of affliction. It gets our attention when we stray from the path God wants us on. If we are serious about following him, afflictions will motivate us to dig deeper into his Word so we can know him better and learn how to please him.

God knows we need to suffer hardships so we will rely on him instead of ourselves. Paul suffered many hardships on his missionary journeys (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). He wanted the church at Corinth to know the extent of his hardships and understand the reason for them. “⁸We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. ⁹Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).

If the branch does not rely on the vine, it “can do nothing” (John 15:5). We are powerless on our own. God gifts us various hardships to reveal to us our inabilities and our need for him.

God knows testing will make us more like him. The psalmist recognized God in extremely difficult situations, but he also was aware of their glorious accomplishments. “¹⁰For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. ¹¹You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. ¹²You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance” (Psalm 66:10-12).

In ancient times when silver was found in ore, the ore was first crushed and then heated to very high temperatures. When the silver liquefied, the solid impurities rose to the top where the refiner skimmed them off. Heat was applied multiple times, and each time newly revealed impurities were removed. The process was repeated until the refiner could see a clear image of himself when he looked into the pure silver. In the same way, God uses the crushing and the intense heat of our trials to purify our hearts and change us to more clearly reflect him to those around us.

God knows suffering with Christ will enable us to identify with him and share more fully in his glory. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17).

Jesus suffered on the cross for us, and through his death and resurrection, that work was complete; that suffering will never again be required of anyone. However, he also lived a life of suffering that we do share in. His life of total obedience to his Father resulted in constant conflict with the world.

When our life of obedience to God brings insults and cruelty from the world, we share in his sufferings. We are persecuted for the same reasons Jesus was. It is through these similar sufferings that the glory we will share with Jesus in eternity will be so much sweeter. We might compare it to the bond that is forged among soldiers who have suffered together through the atrocities of war; afterward they share a level of intimacy they experience with no one else.

~~~

Let’s revisit our tearful, grieving family for a rereading of the will and listen for what we missed the first time.

“I leave to my precious grandchildren a lifetime of unavoidable trials. You will not know when or in what form they will appear, but when they come, think of me. I am the one who will send them into your life to help you grow strong in character and in my ways. I am still teaching you. Listen for my voice to guide you through each difficult situation. As you do, you will grow up to be more and more like me. And because of that, you will find joy in your trials.

“I leave to my dear sons my substantial bank account of afflictions. Each time you withdraw funds, your experience will motivate you to search the instructions I have left you about how to live a life of righteousness and purpose. As you delve deeper into this book, you will discover the true wealth in its words.

“I leave to my cherished daughters a special chest filled with hardships. Each one is a shining jewel that will reveal to you more of your inadequacies so that you will not strive to do things in your own power that I alone can do for you. I want you to see that your life is in me, not in your own abilities. I will always provide everything you need.

“I leave to my beloved wife all the insults and slander I have experienced in this life. Because you are mine, the world will treat you as it treated me. When you experience these injustices, you will be reminded of all I have suffered for you and of how much I love you. No one will ever love you as much as I do. I will be with you through every mistreatment and cruelty. And it will all become as a slight inconvenience when you put it in perspective, remembering that you will soon be in my presence forevermore.”

As everyone ponders the words of the writer of the will, the room is quiet. Tissues wipe away tears that now flow from the deep well of joy. Each relative is elated with their gifts, reminded of how they are loved beyond measure, and blessed to be heirs to the chastisements that signify they belong in this family.

Scripture quotations are from NIV.

Feature photo by jupiterimages on FreeImages

[1] From Morning by Morning Devotional Journal, “March 8,” published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.