The Way Life Should Be (Not!)
April 8, 2018

Scripture: Job 1:1-5

Three introductory statements about the book of Job:
1) Job is a long book. You cannot adequately talk about suffering in a short space.
2) Job will make you feel some negative emotions. One reason for the negative emotions is that Job goes against the prosperity gospel and the therapeutic gospel.
3) Job does not answer the why question regarding suffering. But it does answer a far more important question when we suffer. Who? Who is God?

I. You should live as a good person.

A. In Job 1:1 four words or groups of words are used to introduce Job’s character. Job is blameless, upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. Job is blameless in the sense of being completely honest. He is a man of integrity. He’s a what you see is what you get kind of guy. And Job is not only blameless. He is also upright. He treats other people right. He’s not going to cheat you or hurt you. He’ll do right by you. Third, Job is called one who feared God. He was devoted to God. He had a heart for God and His ways. He wanted to please God in all He did. Finally, Job turned away from evil. Job didn’t just love God. He hated evil. When he saw evil, he turned away from it. He completely rejected all that was bad.

II. You should have your goodness rewarded with greatness.

A. “There were born to (Job) seven sons and three daughters” (vs. 2). Psalm 127:3-5: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” God rewarded Job’s goodness with many children.

B. The second group of rewards comes in vs. 3. Look at Job’s possessions! He has 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys and very many servants. Job was a rich man. How rich? Verse 3 says that this man – Job – was the greatest of all the people of the east. And by greatest the author of Job means richest.

III. You should live without anxiety.

A. You might think that Job would have nothing to be anxious about. He’s a good man. He pleases God in everything he does. God clearly loves Job. And God has rewarded Job with children and with wealth. He’s living the way life should be. So, of course, Job would not be anxious about anything, right? Well, vs. 4-5 reveal that in spite of Job’s great life, he is still anxious about something. He’s anxious about his family. Job’s children were able to enjoy the best of everything. So the 10 children would regularly get together and enjoy a feast according to vs. 4 like we might on Thanksgiving. According to vs. 5 at the end of each party Job would gather each of his 10 children together and offer a sacrifice for each one of them. Why? Job said in vs. 5, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Job doesn’t know that his children have sinned. He just thinks they may have sinned. Job offered sacrifices for his children because he knew there is darkness in the human heart.

Application:
Life on this earth is not the way life should be because of sin and suffering. But in spite of our suffering God is good all the time.

Sources:
The book of Job
Commentaries on Job by Christopher Ash, Francis Andersen, and David Clines