Job, according to Job 1:1, was “blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” What greater commendation could be given a man? Not only was Job wealthy, but he had six children that he loved dearly. He loved them so much that he wanted them to be pure before God (1:5). What’s a man to do for his children? Pray for them and seek to keep them in the straight and narrow path away from sin (Proverbs 22:6).
Job, being an honest and upright individual himself, would shortly lose all that he had, including his children and his health. This was the result of his goodness before God. Satan did whatever was necessary to destroy his faith and love for God. And remember that Satan keeps doing the same 2,500 years later (1 Thessalonians 2:18; 2 Timothy 2:26; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 2:10). What’s a man to do? Job’s wife said, “Curse God and die.” His friends were not much better. Job, being a man of integrity, remained faithful. Because he retained his integrity, God blessed him with an even greater abundance. That is what a man is to do.
For you and me, there will be times when we are tempted to give up and blame God for our misfortune. We can blame Satan and our own weaknesses to not live right, not eat right, not work right, or get the proper rest. We can blame ourselves for our own failure to worship God by yielding to temptation and the lusts of the flesh. What’s a man to do? Give up? No, a man has to stop and rededicate himself to God and His Son. James wrote, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:7-8). Why not listen to God? If we will just listen to Him He can guide us into all truth and then we can satisfy Him.
Adapted from Jim Belcher
