Does working to end suffering in others work against their spiritual growth?
2007-06-17 17:49:24 · 12 answers · asked by philmeta11 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In some, suffering is a catalyst to find answers to the 'big life' questions...spiritual pursuits, etc. In others, there can be a downward spiraling into alcohol, drugs, or just plain misery...repeated patterns, etc.
I try to help people who I think can be help...I tend to work with someone for awhile. If after awhile, they show me that they are not willing to listen, work at solving their problem, then I step aside. They need to learn the bigger lessons...maybe the hard way.
This doesn't mean that I stop caring.
We can be there for people on a "human" level, but if the fruit is not ripe...we sometimes have to wait.
2007-06-17 18:03:52 · answer #1 · answered by Eve 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually spiritual growth happens mostly through learning through suffering.
Suffering by itself teaches little, and that little bit very quickly: how many times do you need to ram your head into a wall to understand what the message is?
The main point is working to end suffering. You are not ending all the person's suffering, which means that they will still grow, but as much of it as you can. One does not need to suffer much to grow, since the small lesson contains the same as the big lesson.
2007-06-17 17:55:52 · answer #2 · answered by Khnopff71 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A great question. I don't think so. Working toward reducing suffering is a noble task, but if it happens to you and you are a believer, you had better sort this out with God and ask what is this suffering supposed to achieve in your life. You may be avoiding an important lesson by trying to escape the suffering, instead of seeing it as a tool. I recommend a wonderful book by C.S.Lewis called The Problem of Pain.
2007-06-17 17:56:49 · answer #3 · answered by Mutations Killed Darwin Fish 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No not at all. If you are a Christian and you help someone who is suffering to feel better, they see your good works through Christ. Hopefully they will realize that the end to their suffering came from Gods own hand and start living for him. I think we all suffer to a certain extent on a regular basis. I don't think there is an end to suffering you just learn how to lean on God to get you through the tough times. Without him it would be 10 to 100 to 1000 times worse.
2007-06-17 17:56:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In suffering, one via nature calls onto Gods call whether no longer praying. And for some unusual reason it style of feels to develop the ethical or spirit. The sufferer realizes this and if the concept is powerful adequate then he repeats the prepare and that's the reason of the non secular growth. certainly it quite is the Gods call that catalyzes non secular growth and not suffering. suffering purely reminds you that there is a catalyst.
2016-09-28 00:12:01 · answer #5 · answered by monte 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suffering does not help one grow spiritually unless you consider that the suffering will sometimes encourage believers to trust more in God than they did before. Suffering can also take away from our growth because we concentrate on it instead of on God/Jesus.
Ending suffering in the world is a task that all Christians are supposed to work towards...as God has no desire for any of his children to suffer.
2007-06-17 17:54:53 · answer #6 · answered by Poohcat1 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well some suffering and that depends on the person. It leads to a confrontation of a way of thinking. People have to stop and evaluate their life when things go awry. It is a time when people come to God and actually ask. Do you have to suffer to come to that? I think there is an easier path as well. I received Jesus at a young age as well as God spirit. I have been through some things but like to talke to God, like to think and contemplate, and like to break the mold in thinking. I think I have bypassed much suffering just by having a relationship with God. I asked him to pick my wife for me and he let me know he did. I believe it has saved me much trouble. It was worth it.
2007-06-17 17:59:11 · answer #7 · answered by Dustinthewind 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes yes it strengthed our spiritual growth. To help another that is suffering will not hinder anyone spiritual growth.
2007-06-17 17:55:07 · answer #8 · answered by JoJoBa 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Don't believe suffering promotes spiritual growth, in fact in some case it stunts it.
It is always better to make decisions from a place of balance and well being than from a place of desperation and pain.
2007-06-17 17:55:37 · answer #9 · answered by Fluffy Wisdom 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No it benefits the one suffering and the one helping.
2007-06-17 17:54:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋