March 30, 2007

Reading through the Bible this year: http://www.emailbiblestudy.com/Schedule.htm

Good Evening Brothers and Sisters,

Job 29 (NLT)
¹ Job continued speaking: ² “I long for the years gone by when God took care of me, ³ when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness. ⁴ When I was in my prime, God’s friendship was felt in my home. ⁵ The Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me. ⁶ My cows produced milk in abundance, and my groves poured out streams of olive oil. ⁷ “Those were the days when I went to the city gate and took my place among the honored leaders. ⁸ The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming. ⁹ The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths. ¹⁰ The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect. ¹¹ “All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me. ¹² For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help. ¹³ I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy. ¹⁴ Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban. ¹⁵ I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. ¹⁶ I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help. ¹⁷ I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth. ¹⁸ “I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life. ¹⁹ For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew. ²⁰ New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.’ ²¹ “Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak. ²² And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them. ²³ They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain. ²⁴ When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them. ²⁵ Like a chief, I told them what to do. I lived like a king among his troops and comforted those who mourned.^[1]

Job considers his life before tragedy struck. He stood in integrity.  He lived a life that caused everyone to want to get near to him, he was the man to know.  Job was in the limelight as the one who could get things done.  If you were in trouble, you went to him for help.  Strangers would drop by for assistance.  Job had it good, everything was going well for him.  Not only that, when Job spoke people listened because he was the one who spoke with the authority as the one who knew.  Keep that in mind and try to think what it could be compared to. 

Note the biggest strength that Job looked at, he helped the needy.  Prior to the welfare system, how do you think the needy were taken care of?  Great men generously sacrificed so that they could come to the aid of those in need.  The result of this was that God blessed them in magnificent ways.  Perhaps this is one of the reasons for Job's incredible wealth before his disaster.  We really do not know. 

I left the study in one big chunk today so that we can look at the overall character of Job.  Also consider, do I take care of those in need around me?  Or do I struggle to get all I can get and hoard it for the future?  Does God bless the hoarder who piles up his riches in the bank?  It seems pretty clear from Job that the one who reaches out to others will be blessed.  Our welfare system has robbed us of the opportunity to learn this lesson.  It's worth thinking about.

Father, as we consider Your word today, show us our hearts and draw us close to You.

In Him,

Joe Turner.