Do you think God lets bad things happen to good people in order to reach others?
Say for example a man's wife left him even though he was a good christian man. And his neighbor was so heart wrenched by his neighbor's missfortune it caused him to clean up his
act when dealing with women.

This post was edited by ris on Sep 25 2013 10:29am

Well, there is no promise of an easy life if you choose to follow Jesus. Jesus makes it clear that if you follow him there will be suffering.
As a matter of fact there may be even more suffering if you follow Jesus than if you don't. Paul speaks about suffering and even rejoicing in suffering.

On the other hand you also have to consider why the wife would leave the man. The man obviously would have done something the wife didn't like. Thus actions have consequences.
So does God let it happen? Yes. Does he have a purpose for it? Yes.

Sometimes it isn't just bad things happening to good people. We are turned over to the consequences of our actions. Perhaps the man was a righteous man and sought to serve properly. The women was given over to temptation and the draw of worldly pleasures.

So she turned her back on him and left. Sure he had to go through some disappointment and heartache, but it might be saving him from a much greater pain and suufering had she stayed. She on the other hand has set herself up to be placed in a much worse situation with a man who does not have moral restraint or to suffer the consequences of an immoral life.

Perhaps she will learn/repent and return to her husband and live life as a wholesome and righteous woman and recieve blessings, perhaps not. Also perhaps he will be lead to a righteous woman that will lead to a fufilled life of blessings that God has intended for us, while avaoiding the turmoil of a wordly women.

Broad question with many many possibilites.

God allows good and bad to happen to everyone because he is righteous and holy. As children of God, there is the promise that ALL things happen for the good of those that love him (Romans 8:28). Whether we see the good in the "bad", there is a purpose in it and God has a reason. James tells us to find joy in the times of trial because in the end they make us stronger and more reliant on God (James 1).

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