Post by Micheal on May 28, 2008 16:00:51 GMT -6
Today I would like to talk about a popular misconception. The theory that says, if you're a "good person" bad things wont happen to you. Apparently this misleading idea was shared by some people in the Bible, particularly a guy named Eliphaz.
Before we jump in, let me set the stage for you.
One day satan comes before God and God asks him where he has come from. Satan answers that he's been walking the earth watching what's going on in the world of men. God asks if satan has noticed His servant Job (j OH b). Now Job has it going on. He's the richest guy around, he has thousands of head of livestock, and employs many servants. Basically, he's been blessed a lot.
And God starts bragging on him to satan. He talks about how upright Job is, how he wont have anything to do with evil because of his reverent respect for God. Satan answers back that the only reason Job gives a hoot what God thinks is because God has blessed him so much. So God decides to prove him wrong. He allows satan to take away everything Job has, as long as he doesn't touch Job.
Pretty soon, Job's children are killed, his livestock all die and his servants are murdered. He has almost nothing left. Yet he never turns from God.
Satan pops up in God's courtyard again. God points out that even though Job lost everything, he still never cursed the Lord his God. Satan claims that the only reason he still hasn't cursed God is because God wouldn't allow anything to happen to him personally. "After all", satan says, "A man will say anything to save his life." So God agrees to the test. He gives satan permission to do anything to Job as long as it doesn't kill him.
Pretty soon, Job is smited with health so bad that chunks of skin are literally falling off of his bones.
Enter three friends, among whom is Eliphaz. Upon seeing Job, they immediately tear their robes and cover themselves with ashes. (In their day, this was a way of expressing deep sorrow.) They then sit down next to Job and no one says anything for seven days.
Finally, Job speaks. He starts complaining about his life and cursing the day he was born. He seems to forget all the good things he had because the bad is so intense at that moment. Eliphaz replies and basically tells him to shut up. At first, he reminds Job of the times when someone else was having a hard time and Job helped them to trust the Lord. So far he's making sense.
Then his argument falls apart. See, Eliphaz believes that bad things happen only to sinners. So he assumes that since all of this is happening to Job, Job must have committed a great sin. Now, we all know this isn't true because we just heard the story. God is allowing Job to be tested.
So, if something bad is happening to someone good, why? Well first off let me tell you, there are no truly good people. Even Jesus, when someone called him good but didn't recognize him as God, rebuked them saying, "Only God is good."
So why is this stuff happening to Job? I think there are two reasons. The first is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13. This verse tells us that God will never allow more to come against us than we can stand. God knew that Job, as long as he was trusting the Lord, could take everything satan dished out and come out on top.
The second reason is found in Romans 8:28. Here we find that "God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." You see, the Israelites had a bad habit, one still shared by most people today. After living in God's blessings for awhile, they forgot about God. They began to depend on themselves and their wealth to get by, without even thanking God. So maybe, Job needed a reminder of who his provider was. Maybe he was depending on his wealth to save him. Either way, God knew that Job would come out better for it.
So, the next time tragedy strikes close to you or someone you love, don't automatically assume they/you did something wrong to bring it about. If you did sin, repent. But if not, trust God. He will see you through. I leave with the words of the prophet Isaiah. "Those who wait upon the Lord will find new strength. They will be lifted up on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (40:31)"
Peace out.
Before we jump in, let me set the stage for you.
One day satan comes before God and God asks him where he has come from. Satan answers that he's been walking the earth watching what's going on in the world of men. God asks if satan has noticed His servant Job (j OH b). Now Job has it going on. He's the richest guy around, he has thousands of head of livestock, and employs many servants. Basically, he's been blessed a lot.
And God starts bragging on him to satan. He talks about how upright Job is, how he wont have anything to do with evil because of his reverent respect for God. Satan answers back that the only reason Job gives a hoot what God thinks is because God has blessed him so much. So God decides to prove him wrong. He allows satan to take away everything Job has, as long as he doesn't touch Job.
Pretty soon, Job's children are killed, his livestock all die and his servants are murdered. He has almost nothing left. Yet he never turns from God.
Satan pops up in God's courtyard again. God points out that even though Job lost everything, he still never cursed the Lord his God. Satan claims that the only reason he still hasn't cursed God is because God wouldn't allow anything to happen to him personally. "After all", satan says, "A man will say anything to save his life." So God agrees to the test. He gives satan permission to do anything to Job as long as it doesn't kill him.
Pretty soon, Job is smited with health so bad that chunks of skin are literally falling off of his bones.
Enter three friends, among whom is Eliphaz. Upon seeing Job, they immediately tear their robes and cover themselves with ashes. (In their day, this was a way of expressing deep sorrow.) They then sit down next to Job and no one says anything for seven days.
Finally, Job speaks. He starts complaining about his life and cursing the day he was born. He seems to forget all the good things he had because the bad is so intense at that moment. Eliphaz replies and basically tells him to shut up. At first, he reminds Job of the times when someone else was having a hard time and Job helped them to trust the Lord. So far he's making sense.
Then his argument falls apart. See, Eliphaz believes that bad things happen only to sinners. So he assumes that since all of this is happening to Job, Job must have committed a great sin. Now, we all know this isn't true because we just heard the story. God is allowing Job to be tested.
So, if something bad is happening to someone good, why? Well first off let me tell you, there are no truly good people. Even Jesus, when someone called him good but didn't recognize him as God, rebuked them saying, "Only God is good."
So why is this stuff happening to Job? I think there are two reasons. The first is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13. This verse tells us that God will never allow more to come against us than we can stand. God knew that Job, as long as he was trusting the Lord, could take everything satan dished out and come out on top.
The second reason is found in Romans 8:28. Here we find that "God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." You see, the Israelites had a bad habit, one still shared by most people today. After living in God's blessings for awhile, they forgot about God. They began to depend on themselves and their wealth to get by, without even thanking God. So maybe, Job needed a reminder of who his provider was. Maybe he was depending on his wealth to save him. Either way, God knew that Job would come out better for it.
So, the next time tragedy strikes close to you or someone you love, don't automatically assume they/you did something wrong to bring it about. If you did sin, repent. But if not, trust God. He will see you through. I leave with the words of the prophet Isaiah. "Those who wait upon the Lord will find new strength. They will be lifted up on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (40:31)"
Peace out.