“Proud to Be a Job”
One of my favorite books in the Bible is Job. Job encourages us that even when walking through the most torrential storms of life, we can remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that God will sustain us. To me, that isn’t even the best part of the story. Take a look at the beginning. “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” (Job 1:1) What does that mean? I “googled™” the words perfect, upright and eschew, and this is what I found. “Perfect” is “having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics, as good as it is possible to be.” “Upright” means strictly honorable, and to “eschew” is to “deliberately avoid” or “abstain from.” That tells me that Job wasn’t perfect as in never committing a sin – only Christ was perfect without sin – but he strove to be a Godly man.
We too can live a life such that God will call us perfect and upright, eschewing evil.
Let’s skip ahead in the story.One day, Satan comes before the Lord and basically is telling God he is bored and needs someone to aggravate. Satan loves playing games with us because he ultimately wants to grab our attention away from the Father and “win” us over to him. The Lord says, ” Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth?” (Job 1:6-8) After more discussion, the Lord gives Satan the okay to send storms Job’s way. (Job 1:12) Job faces a myriad of trouble all in one day — his oxen and donkeys, sheep, camels, and the servants tending them were all killed, destroyed, or stolen and his sons were all murdered. Upon hearing it all, Job worshipped the Lord. (Job 1:13-22) Since Satan had lost that round, he appealed to God for another crack at Job. God allowed it but said he could not take Job’s life. Satan then attacked Job with a great sickness — he had boils all over his body — and then his wife turned on him, telling him to curse God. He was suffering but yet he held to his faith and didn’t sin against God.
Sometimes we feel like our whole world is caving in around us and we ask what it all means. Why is this happening to me? What else can I possibly endure? Why must I suffer so? If you are feeling this way today, it could be that Satan was bored and God said, “Have you considered my servant {insert your name here}?” I don’t like to face trouble and storms, but when I stop to consider that maybe God has allowed Satan to bring them my way because He is proud of me and wants me to realize how strong my trust and faithfulness to Him is, I’m proud to be a Job.
May God’s light always shine brighter through me in the stormy seas of life than in the calm waters.
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Psalm 138:7-8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies and thy right hand shall save me. The Lord perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever, forsake not the works of thine own hand.
Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
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