How can we rejoice in sufferings for other people?

Process of the Cross (source: Gretchen Filz)

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church," Colossians 1:24

Most people do not want to suffer any small loss due to others. When we are willing to burden for other people, in general we are assumed to believe that it gives us a benefit in return; otherwise, we should identify ourselves with others so that I never feel any loss by sharing anything with them. Commitment and patriotism toward country without expecting any reward may be an example for the latter case.

Likewise, "rejoicing in any sufferings for other people" as a Christian would be feasible under the above assumptions but in the different point of view. First, a true Christian would expect any reward not physical but spiritual. It might be hypocritical to behave any good thing expecting physical compensation or our own spiritual comfort. On the other hand, it should be sincere to do any good thing expecting afflictions in the world but invisible rewards in the Heaven after death.

Second, a true Christian would be filled with a sense of perfect unity with Jesus Christ so that he or she never feel any loss through bearing sufferings for the sake of other people in the name of Jesus Christ. No bitter experience from true Christian life could discourage him or her because it would lead to my eventual resurrection as shown in Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection.

That is why Paul said "I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body." The true commitment to other people begins not only from the sense of unity with Jesus Christ but also from a firm belief about invisible rewards in the Heaven.

We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, 'Blessed are they that mourn.'#CSLewis pic.twitter.com/oewbxFMTn1

— C. S. Lewis (@CSLewisDaily) October 7, 2017