Lessons from the Book of Job
By
We live in a fallen world filled with sin and at
times living in it can be difficult. Since the days of Jesus Christ, Christians
have been continually persecuted and discriminated against for their faith. Even in today’s world, Christians are regularly
discriminated against and ridiculed in the name of political correctness. The road travelled by
those who walk with The Lord is a rough one but we can take comfort in knowing
that He loves us and that He has died for our sins. The book of Job tells the tale of a man blessed
with health, wealth and a big happy family who ends up losing everything he
ever held dear. But even in the depths of his misery, Job was still able to
give praise unto the Lord. In this article, we’ll take a look at how the Patience of Job is still very much
relevant to modern day living. 1. Sometimes Life Isn’t Fair - and That’s
Perfectly Fine It is believed by many that the trials and
tribulations suffered by Job were the result of God’s love for Job. One day, Satan approached God who proudly spoke
about Job and his unwavering devotion to the Lord. Not believing this fact,
Satan scoffed at this and claimed that Job was only faithful because he had
been greatly blessed by the Lord. With that, God allowed Satan to put Job to the
test on the condition that Satan was not allowed to kill Job. Thus began the “Trial of Job” - a sequence of disasters and tragedies that
would rain down on Job without mercy. In one fell swoop, Job would lose his family,
his business and even his home. Expecting Job to immediately begin cursing the
Lord, Satan is left surprised when he sees that despite the tragedies that have
befallen him, Job remains loyal and continues to give praise unto the Lord. Throughout the course of our lives, we’re bound
to encounter events that may shake our faith in the Lord. Maybe you were sure that horse was going to be the Kentucky Derby winner and it disappointed
during the race. From financial ruinto personal tragedy and loss, life is a
long and winding road that will never be smooth. However, by persevering and taking comfort from
the Lord’s love you will be able to overcome anything that this world can throw
at you. Falling into a cycle of bitterness and self-pity while tempting can be
difficult to break out of - but hold on and reach out to the Lord. As the Lord
says in Psalms 55:22; cast your burdens on the Lord, and he shall sustain you. 2. The World Will (Try to) Pull You Down Despite what many may say about the freedom of
speech Christians are often prosecuted for their faith in a modern world that
places too much emphasis on PC culture. Where comedians are able to make
millions making fun of Christianity, streaming church praise and worship videos
are deemed harmful and offensive. This isn’t something that is new as when Job was
cursed by Satan, his friends and even his wife encouraged him to turn his back
on God. They ridiculed him for his faith and even called him a madman who
simply refused to see the facts. But Job knew better then that, he knew that he
would never be forsaken and his faith was not unfounded. As we’ve seen the
bible on dozens of occasions, the Lord has always come through for those who
remain steadfast and faithful. While you may find yourself being discouraged by
the anti-Christian propaganda perpetuated on mass media nowadays, take heart in
Job’s courage. Despite all that he had been through, he refused to back down
and held on to his beliefs. 3. The Lord is Always Watching Over Us Many a Christian can attest to the special relationship
that they have with their Heavenly Father. The feeling of having someone so
loving and so merciful is truly something else. Just as Job called out to the Lord during his
darkest moments, we too can turn to the Lord when we’re feeling down and out.
He may have been covered in sores and he may have lost everything that
mattered, but at the end of it all, Job knew that there was someone out there
who loved him. More of a reminder than a lesson in itself, the
book of Job reminds us that the Lord will always be there for us no matter what
and we can take comfort in his love.
