Blessing Others

Biblically, we're not to 'kick a man when he's down'. Even if that man is hateful and evil, we aren't to curse him. Instead...

Blessing Others

Biblically, we're not to 'kick a man when he's down'. Even if that man is hateful and evil, we aren't to curse him. Instead we're to do the opposite and to bless him.

Job's 'comforters' seemed to hate him. They were trying, unsuccessfully, to make sense of what he was going through and so assumed he was being cursed by God. By the end of the book though, God gives Job His seal of approval.

Despite all Job had to go through, God was pleased with him. We know that it was satan's accusation that made his life a misery, rather than God's disapproval. If we ever feel that God is not rewarding us for our integrity, we need to be reminded of Job’s troubles and remember to have an eternal perspective.

If Christ has gifted us with eternal life, we can endure whatever this life throws at us. He has given us His Holy Spirit so that we can endure. He even helps us to love our 'frenemies' who kick us when we're down and He walks with us through any fire life puts before us.

'Loving Heavenly Father, may we love our enemies, and not to wish harm upon them. Thank You for Your love for us while we were still Your enemies, through Christ our Lord, amen.'

 

Hospitable

I'm sure Job wasn't simply hospitable because that was his culture. I'm sure he was hospitable because he saw the value and importance of being welcoming, and feeling welcomed.

Lockdown restrictions have forced us to 'batten down the hatches' and isolate ourselves. Do we still have hospitable hearts, or have we lost our sense of hospitality? May God bring us back to where He would have us to be!

None of Job's employees or visitors went hungry. He made sure that everyoe who entered his abode were well fed and watered. Visitors to the area could be assured of a warm welcome.

We would do well to learn from Job's hospitality. No one is illegal as far as God is concerned, whoever they are and wherever they're from. Everyone is welcome to enter through heaven's Door, into the care of the Lord Jesus Christ.

'Dear Father God, thank You for Your warm welcome to strangers like us into Your Kingdom. May we likewise be hospitable to others, to Your praise and glory, amen.'

 

Nothing To Hide

With Job, ‘what you saw is what you got.’ He didn't have skeletons in the closet. When you fear the Lord like he did, you have nothing else to be afraid of.

People with hidden sins are scared they'll get found out. Job didn't have a fear of going out and getting found out, because there was nothing unsavoury to find out about him. He might have complained a lot in his book, but he didn't grumble behind God's back, he took his grievances directly to Him.

If we do have sins that need confessing, it might not only be God who needs to know. We might need to admit our wrongdoing to those we have wronged as well. Job had no such need.

I'm sure most of us have sins we need to confess. But just imagine how liberating it would be to have a clear conscience like Job. He wasn't perfect, but he kept his conscience clear

'Lord, we confess our sins to You and ask that You would clear our consciences to be free to live for You without needing to fear getting found out as frauds. May our love be genuine, for Your glory we pray, amen.'

 

Prayerful

Much of what we've considered about Job could also be said of a conscientious unbeliever. Today's verses, however, clearly mark Job out as a God-fearer and God believer. He cried out to God and longed for a response.

Graciously, God would respond to Job, but He didn't reveal why he suffered as he did. Instead, God reminded Job that He is the Almighty who has a right to do whatever He likes. We have no entitlements before the Mighty One.

Job knew that although he respected God, he didn't need to cower away from Him in terror. He knew that because of his integrity he could approach God confidently. He knew God wasn't going to condemn him, although God did end up putting him in his place.

When they finally did meet up, Job was humbled before the Almighty. God did vindicate him, however, so he could hold his head up high. It is only by God's grace that we can feel good about ourselves (if we obey Him), and we should always thank God for His goodness at work in us.

'Almighty God, may we come to You expectantly and hungry for a reply. Please speak to us through Your Word as to how we can best honour You, for Your glory we pray, amen

 

Environmental Stewardship

These are Job's final words before God eventually answered Him out of a storm. Interestingly, his conclusion is about how environmentally conscious he was. Job didn't bleed his land dry of its resources.

I'm sure Job allowed his land to go fallow from time to time, to have its own sabbatical and not to be over cultivated. We can hope that he allowed poor people to glean in his fields. Even though these are Jewish principles and Job lived long before the creation of the nation of Israel, he was a God-fearing man and knew in his heart what pleased God, what was right and wrong.

It seems that Job rented his land out. He asserts here that he did so fairly. He didn't rip people off in the rents he demanded from them.

Job knew that if he wasn't a responsible landowner, he wouldn't deserve to be so prosperous. He saw himself as what we all are; stewards of all that God entrusts us with. May we likewise serve God well and gladly!

'Dear Lord, may we be responsible in Your service and rejoice at our privilege to do so. To the praise of Your glorious grace, we pray, amen.'

 

One greater than Job

Having put Job on a pedestal as the epitome of a good husband, I feel the need to provide one crucial caveat. Job was righteous, I don't want to detract from that, but even he knew that he needed a Redeemer.

Job had an amazing insight into Christ as His Redeemer. He knew that Christ lived. He knew he would see Him and give an account of himself to Him, and he trembled at the thought.

It doesn't matter whether we're fine, upstanding pillars of our communities, or dodgy, notorious sinners. We all need a Redeemer, and His name is Jesus. Job had the humility to recognise his need of Him, do we?

The resurrection of everyone who has ever lived is as assured as Jesus' tomb is empty. Whether we're good or bad, we will give an account of ourselves to God and receive what we deserve after we have taken our last breath on earth. Whether we're buried or cremated, we will face our Judge in the flesh. Our only hope is if our Judge is our Redeemer.

'Judge of all the earth, thank You for providing redemption for us from the penalty our sin demands, through Your sacrifice on the cross on our behalf. For the praise of Your name, we pray, amen.