Living for God Despite Worldly Disapproval and Persecution
Living for God often entails facing worldly disapproval and persecution, a reality consistently affirmed in Christian scripture and tradition. Jesus himself stated, "Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake" [1]. This teaching establishes that suffering for one's faith is not an anomaly but a condition that brings blessing.
The Apostle Paul echoed this sentiment, declaring, "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" [2]. This suffering can manifest in various forms, from social reproach to physical hardship. Paul himself experienced imprisonment and distress for preaching the Gospel, particularly to the Gentiles [7]. John Gill notes that persecution often arises "for righteousness sake," meaning on account of a righteous and godly conversation that distinguishes believers from the world and implicitly critiques unrighteous living [8].
Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, explains that suffering "according to the will of God" means enduring for righteousness' sake without retaliating when reviled [6]. This perspective emphasizes a faithful response to adversity. The world, with its desires, is temporary, but those who do God's will "remain forever" [3, 5]. This contrast highlights the eternal significance of faithfulness despite temporal difficulties.
The motivation for enduring such trials is rooted in hope and commitment to God. Paul, for instance, endured "all things for the elects' sakes," understanding that his suffering served God's eternal plan for those chosen for salvation [11]. He also expressed a profound commitment to the "cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," even glorying in the "disgrace and persecution" that came with it [10]. This commitment reflects a deep trust in God's faithfulness. Believers are encouraged to "commit the keeping of their souls" to God, who is faithful to preserve what is entrusted to Him [6]. This trust is crucial because, as the Darby translation of 1 Timothy 4:10 states, "for this we labour and suffer reproach, because we hope in a living God, who is preserver of all men, specially of those that believe" [4]. The ultimate hope is in the "living God," who will punish those who oppose His cause and people [9].
Sources
- Matthew ““Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. -- Matthew 5:11”
- 2 Timothy “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. -- 2 Timothy 3:12”
- 1 John “The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever. -- 1 John 2:17”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 4:10 (Darby) — for, for this we labour and suffer reproach, because we hope in a livingGod, who is preserver of all men, specially of those that believe.”
- I John “I John 2:17 (Darby) — And the world is passing, and its lust, but he that does the will ofGod abides for eternity.”
- 1 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 4:19: Suffer according to the will of God - A man suffers according to the will of God who suffers for righteousness' sake; and who, being reviled, reviles not again. Commit the keeping of their souls - Place their lives confidently in his hand, who, being their Creator, will also be their preserver, and keep that safely which is committed to his trust. God is here represented as faithful, because he will always fulfill his promises, and withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly. But they had no reason to hope that he would care for their lives and souls unles”
- 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 1:12: For the which cause I also suffer these things,.... The present imprisonment and bonds in which he now was; these, with all the indignities, reproaches, distresses, and persecutions, came upon him, for the sake of his being a preacher of the Gospel; and particularly for his being a teacher of the Gentiles: the Jews hated him, and persecuted him, because he preached the Gospel, and the more because he preached it to the Gentiles, that they might be saved; and the unbelieving Gentiles were stirred up against him, for introducing a new religion among them, to the dest”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 5:10: Blessed are they which are persecuted,.... Not for any crimes they have done, for unrighteousness and iniquity, as murderers, thieves, and evildoers, but for righteousness sake: on account of their righteous and godly conversation, which brings upon them the hatred and enmity of the men of the world: for saints, by living righteously, separate themselves from them, and profess themselves not to belong to them; their religious life sets a brand upon, and distinguishes other persons; yea, it reproves and condemns their wicked lives and practices; and this fills them ”
- Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 10:31: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God - To fall into the hands of God is to fall under his displeasure; and he who lives for ever can punish for ever. How dreadful to have the displeasure of an eternal, almighty Being to rest on the soul for ever! Apostates, and all the persecutors and enemies of God's cause and people, may expect the heaviest judgments of an incensed Deity: and these, not for a time, but through eternity.”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 6:14: But God forbid that I should glory - Whatever others may do, or whatever they may exult or glory in, God forbid that I should exult, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; in the grand doctrine, that justification and salvation are only through Christ crucified, he having made an atonement for the sin of the world by his passion and death. And I glory, also, in the disgrace and persecution which I experience through my attachment to this crucified Christ. By whom the world is crucified unto me - Jewish rites and Gentile vanities are equally insipid to me; ”
- 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 2:10: Therefore I endure all things for the elects' sakes,.... There is a certain number of persons whom God has chosen in Christ from everlasting unto salvation, who shall certainly be saved; for these Jesus Christ suffered and died; and on their account is the Gospel sent, preached, and published to the world; for their sakes are ministers fitted and qualified for their work, and have their mission and commission to perform it, and suffer what they do in the execution of it; and since it was for the sake of such, whom God had loved and chosen, that the apostle endured ”