Things Work Together for Good

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8: 28).

        This text virtually shouts:

                 “Be patient, give God time to be God. He’s working.”

He is most capable of working even the most challenging of events together.  He is very adept at doing it. He is capable of managing every aspect of our lives.

First, a disclaimer, not all things are good when considered in isolation. Life is not perfect and easy for the most saintly Jesus follower. Life is contested by evil, adversity, pain, heartbreak, suffering etc. He is able to work all things, not some things together. He works them for good together, not in isolation. That includes even our sufferings working together for our good and His glory.

That includes even in our worldly losses or gains, poverty or riches, reproach or commendation, contempt or honor, pain or ease, sickness or health, and the ten thousand changes of life; work together — All things, even sin itself; because from our falls, God’s children arise more humble and committed. Afflictions are chiefly intended; the worst and grossest, those things that are evil in themselves, to work for good to the children of God who work with Him repentantly.

Those to whom this is applicable are described as those who are called according to His purpose and love Him. Those are Christ followers who love and obey Him, not everybody. Certainly, the Lord does good to all people in some sense. He sends the sun and rain on the just and the unjust, for instance, so that both groups of individuals can have food to eat.

With who or what do all things work together for good? They work together with the Lord as He works, they work together with one another as they interact, and they work together with those who love and serve Him. Again, they work together with us; we ourselves must agree and be active; we must labor and endeavor to get good out of every circumstance.

As things work together they tend to purge us from our corrupt passions and lusts, as gold and silver are purified from their dross in the fire.

Hence, even Plato, a heathen, could say, “Whether a righteous man be in poverty, sickness, or any other calamity, we must conclude that it will turn to his advantage, either in life or death.”

The godly Saint Chrysostom’s dying words are summarily befitting of our lips in death, “Glory be to God for all things.”

“For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God” (II Corinthians 4:15).