Suffering in Vain

Galatians 3:4 “Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?”

This is the same context where Paul mentions how their acceptance of circumcision is leading them towards foolishness first, then the flesh taking over and at last all their suffering is about to be wasted. These three effects happen when we deviate from God’s plans on us.

In our previous meditations about Christ living in us (Gal 2:20), Paul had positioned the doctrine of circumcision along with living with the flesh. It means that these teachings help us live in this world but our requirement is to prepare us for the kingdom of God. This preparation requires us to focus on a single method of salvation which is by grace. This is the reason why Paul says in verse 21 that if righteousness comes through the law then Christ had died in vain. The law has suffering and needs obedience. But the validity of this suffering was before Christ’s death and this incident has transformed all mankind’s path towards righteousness.

In 3:1, Paul reasons that since Christ was portrayed as crucified, it is not good for them to be dependent on the law at any quantity. This dependence on any other law other than Christ Himself is against the truth. This portrayal has to change our attitude towards religion, church and the world. The final outcome of the Church in Galatia (if they had really accepted traditions inside) is that all their efforts and growth through suffering has become vain as they had failed in the fundamentals. They have mixed grace with earthly efforts.

The name “Christ” is mentioned here because the Messiah was crucified and this was the only way. If the redeemer himself was put to death, redemption cannot be given by just surviving. We are expected to submit towards suffering. The only question is if we are suffering for a reason or in vain.

Now, suffering is common to both Christians and others. But there is a huge difference in the suffering on being useful or not. Israelites were suffering both in Egypt and in the wilderness. But the former had no purpose or hope. In Exodus 3:8, God take rigorous steps to bring His people out of Egypt. The need had come that God delivers His people out of misery. We need to check if we are in Egypt of in the wilderness. The wilderness is much better as we are free and have hope of glory. We have to check if God wants to deliver us out of this suffering or has He allowed this for our growth.

In Habakkuk 2:13,14 we see that it is God’s plan that people would suffer in vain. This was given as a punishment for the evil deeds of Judah. The glory of God is seen in this action and the whole earth would see that God’s own people are given away towards suffering in vain because of their actions. A similar verse is seen in the Church (Ep 3:10). God permits these sufferings. But here we see Paul’s suffering (v13) which brings glory but in the previous verse Judah’s suffering is clearly mentioned as vain. We should be in a position to use our suffering to encourage others or else, it is in vain.

But, if we repent and turn completely towards Him, God makes our wasted sufferings to produce. The Israelites in Egypt got their wages in gold and silver enough to build the temple of God and more. These gifts are proof that God takes care of our every hard work.

As in Galatians 3:10, people under the law were under a curse that they would be condemned if they do not follow it completely. This curse is suffering in vain. We would be punished for our evil deeds and this punishment was completely vain. But the suffering of Christ was not vain, it brought forward wonderful products that is our redemption. We are expected not to suffer like sinners or the Jews, but like Christ. Our crucifixion is together with Christ so that people are redeemed and the kingdom of God is built both inside us and through us towards others. This difference has to be noticed. Are our sufferings bringing in death or life? The church in Galatia did not do blunders. They just had added a few rituals along with grace and that caused all their labor to become useless.

One important encouragement to us is that, God personally helps us when we are suffering for a purpose. Duet 29:5 and many other verses point to this fact. God was leading them by cloud and fire, he was training the people there. He ensured that everybody was fed properly. Nothing of this sort happens when we are being punished. According to Mathew 5:3 and 10, we need to have spiritual humbleness to accept suffering happily for Christ sake. And these will own the kingdom of heaven. Others will just be participants or tenants there.

 In 1 Corinthians 5:56-58 we read that the law was given as sin got strengthened. But, our actual redeemer is Christ himself. We have victory only through Christ. So, we have to move forward strongly and abounding in the Lord’s work and only then our labor will be useful. Abounding also means overflowing. We need to work for God more than our capabilities or otherwise, all our work will become vain.