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"How Can God Punish Someone Who Does Everything Right?"

Jarrod Jacobs

Questions such as this come up from time to time, and we are certainly glad to help and will go to the Bible and answer this to the best of our ability. This is a more difficult question because there is not one definite answer. The reason is because this question is vague, and this is shown below. Yet, we offer the following study in the hope that it will help others who are interested in Bible study.

A Few Questions

Before we can answer this, a few question need to be addressed. First, what is meant by the word "punish"? What does our querist consider as punishment? Is this one referring to bad times, or ill fortune? In such cases, bad times are not necessarily punishment. The Bible declares that sometimes people endure hardships which "test the mettle" of that person. For example, remember Job? Job suffered much, but none of it was punishment for wrongdoing. James tells us "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy" (Jas. 5:10-11).

Let us also remember that living in a moral society, and being subject to the laws of nature, we have to endure some things that come as a result of our choices, and have nothing to do with God. For example, if someone abuses his body through tobacco use, alcohol, drugs, sexual sins, etc., and then becomes diseased, this is not God personally punishing him, but someone suffering the consequences of a life of abuse. Sometimes, we hear of babies born addicted to drugs, or are infected with AIDS, etc. This was not the fault of the baby, but the fault of the mother. God did not necessarily directly punish her, but she is suffering the consequences (as is the baby) for the decisions made.

Yes, it is true that some suffer from diseases, or are suffering in other ways through no fault of their own. Yet, this is the result of living in a moral society. David spoke of such in Psalm 73. He saw wicked people who he thought were prosperous, "their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men." He saw them as proud, and doing all kinds of horrible things, and thought they were getting away with it (Ps. 73:1-16). He soon learned different (v. 17-28). However, what he saw was the results of living in a moral world; sometimes the wicked are comforted and the righteous tormented. Yet, what else would one expect because the world loves his own (Jn. 15:19).

Another question we need to ask is that by the word "punish," does the querist mean "chastise"? The Bible says that God chastises His children (Heb. 12:5-11). Of course, "chastisement" is done because one needs correction, therefore, that person has NOT done "everything right"!!

Further, what does our querist mean by the term "everything right"? The Bible says, "There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God....For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:10, 11, 23). Does the querist mean one has done "everything right" according to his standards? According to society's standards? Or, according to God's standard? There is a difference!

Some Things We Need To Understand

Having dealt with some questions concerning the wording of the question, we turn to the Bible in an effort to answer our querist's question. As we consider the question, "How Can God Punish Someone Who Does Everything Right?" let us remember a few things.

1) God does not punish those who do things right (righteous). In both Old and New Testaments, we see God's justice and equity. He does not punish the righteous, but the evildoers. Abraham recognized the justice of God in Genesis 18:25. God told the children of Israel, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, ... and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live ... All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live" (Ezek. 18:20-22). In the New Testament, Paul said, "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God" (Rom. 2:9-11). No, God does not punish the righteous in any way.

2) We can read Biblical examples of righteous people who suffered. Once again, we can turn our attention to Job. He was a righteous man who shunned evil, yet he suffered (Job 1:1; etc.). Remember Jesus? What did He do to deserve ridicule, beatings, and crucifixion? We know He was not guilty of any sin, truly, He did "everything right" (I Pet. 2:22)! In fact, both Pilate and his wife knew Christ was innocent of any wrongdoing (Matt. 27:19; John 18:38, 19:6). Yet, He still paid the ultimate price, did He not? Certainly, Paul suffered much for being a Christian (II Cor. 11:23-28). He told Timothy, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (II Tim. 3:12). Peter said, "Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" (I Pet. 4:15-16). Did the suffering of Job, Jesus, Paul, Peter, and others mean they were being punished? To the contrary, their suffering at the hands of men meant they were doing what God wanted (see: John 15:18-20).

3) There is punishment coming for some which is far worse than anything we might experience in this life. There is promised an eternity separated from God for those who are not children of God. Christ said that there is "everlasting punishment" for some (Matt. 25:46). In fact, Christ is promised to return "in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Thess. 1:8). We also can find in the Bible that Christ said, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8). Can anyone think of a physical problem we have that would equal an eternity in Hell? Truly, this is punishment, and there is not a thing on earth that can compare!

4) It is not God who sends us to Hell, but we do it ourselves! Let us not forget that for those who do die in their sins, it is not the fault of our Father, but the fault of the individual (Jas. 1:13-15). God the Father, in His justice, has determined that a judgment day will occur in which all will be judged according to what we have or have not done (Ecc. 12:13-14; Rom. 2:16; II Cor. 5:10). Christ said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). Are we doing what God commands of us, or rebelling against Him? Be honest!

Conclusion: I know this is a difficult question, but perhaps what has been written will be helpful to the one who asked the question. Do YOU have a Bible question? Please let us know.

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