Why do bad things happen to good people?

Introduction

1.    Books with this title

2.    Common question

3.    Multiple answers

4.    I will answer in 2 sermons

a.    Understand the question

b.    Bible answer to the question

Discuss the question

What is BAD?

1.    BAD = Typically

a.    Natural disasters – storms, flood, fire, disaster

b.    Bad = heart attack, Covid-19 virus, cancer

c.    Bad = financial crisis, loss of job, child with birth defect

2.    But all of these happen to people in general, not just good people

3.    BAD = persecution because of your faith

a.    Punishment, death, hardship

Is BAD always BAD?

1.    Successful man, away from God – heart attack, in ICU – returns to God

2.    Joseph sold into slavery, falsely accused, forgotten in prison

3.    Genesis 45:4-9 – You intended it for harm, God intended it for good

4.    Romans 8:28 – “work together” – God’s providence is limitless

Who are GOOD people?

1.    Good – common usage

a.    A Christian

b.    Any decent, moral person

c.    Funeral – “Not a Christian, but he/she was a good person.”

2.    Who is good?

a.    Mark 10:18

b.    Who here today is without sin? John 8:7

c.    1 John 1:10 – say no sin = LIAR

What is GOOD?

1.    Is wealth good or bad?

2.    Heart attack good or bad?

3.    Sold into slavery and forgotten – good or bad?

4.    Is being falsely accused and forgotten in prison good or bad?

Conclusion

1.    TONIGHT – WHY DO GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD PEOPLE? PSALM 73

2.    We do not know what God’s plans are – Joseph, man with heart attack

3.    This is where faith comes in. Remember, the really good win for eternity.