We learned last week from verse one that Job was a man living in the land of Uz and who was perfect and upright, one that feared God and eschewed evil. Job was a man who lived a godly life. Godliness does bring God’s blessings upon them who fear the Lord. “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” Prov. 28:20. God is pleased with people who have faith in Him and is abundantly providing all kinds of blessings.
There is a very dangerous movement called ‘prosperity theology’. Its definition according to Wikipedia is this: “a religious belief among some Protestant Christians that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one’s material wealth.” We need to be careful and not to fall for this trap. Today we will study how we should receive God’s blessings.
The blessings that Job receives become apparent in verses 2-3: “And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.” We can see what a great patriarch Job must be. What a joy it must be to have 10 children. Now, there is also material blessing. Look at the numbers of flock that Job has. “His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household;”. Job was a mighty and powerful man. We read further in this verse: “so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.” We can imagine that everyone heard of Job. Imagine someone passing through the country and asking: To whom belong all these sheep and camels and oxen and asses? To Job of course! To whom else would they belong! He is the greatest of all men!
Job had a very great household. We can imagine a great house and the plentitude of people living in it. To maintain such a prosperity required many servants or workers as we would call them today.
What do we learn from these two verses is that God is willing to bless His people with every sort of blessing. The blessings are first and most of all spiritual, but they extend unto every aspect of life. What we need to be careful though is to remember and not to worship the gifts. Always remember the Giver who is the source of all blessings. It is also inappropriate to seek the material blessings for it is too easy for us to become idolterers.
We may or may not receive prosperity from God. It is all in His hands, but we should always find sufficient things to be grateful for. You are here in this very moment and you may have not much money in the bank, but you live. You had your breakfast. You have roof above your head. You have your family. You breath. All these things come from God, He careth for you. Be grateful for what you have and do not desire more than you have. God knows what is best for you at any given moment. “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Phil. 4:12 As we will learn later in the book, Job was one who learned very well how to live in abundance as well as live being abased.
Note the order of God’s blessings. In verse one we read that Job was perfect, upright, God fearing, abstaining from evil. These are all spiritual blessings. Godly life is a blessing. They are to be sought above everything else. We need to desire peace with God and his righteousness. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Mt. 6:33. All these things shall be added unto you – God will provide everything you need for living. Lesson here is to set the direction for your life correctly: Seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. These are the priorities which define your course.
Be aware of the material blessings, but do not seek them specifically. God knows what you need. Trust in Him and His provision. If you seek material blessings, you are in a great danger that you actually worship the god of money rather then the Creator who is so abundantly offering His mercies willing to forgive you your sins. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Tim. 6:10
What an example is Job for us. He was getting up early in the morning and was praying to God. He offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all. Job was grateful to God for everything he had. He thanks for all the blessings, for his sons and daughters and also all the flocks he has. Most of all, as we are assured in verse 1, Job is a humble man who lives with the fear of the Lord.
Job had a great concern for the souls of his children. What did he pray for? “It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” What a wonderful prayer it is. They party and have fun in life, but do they thank thee, o God? Do they come to thee in repentance and do they seek thy spiritual blessing? Do they remember thee as their only merciful Redeemer? Do they praise thee for who you are and do they worship thy holy name? This is all Job’s concern regarding his children.
Note how Job expresses His concern. It may be they have sinned… He does not know what is in their hearts. “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:7. We can be concerned about other people not seeing clearly the fruit of their salvation, but it is the Lord who sees their hearts. I may be concerned for our children, but I do not know what they prayed for last night in their beds. The Lord knows.
Job does not accuse them for their feasts and parties. He was probably frequently invited to them. Job is concerned they may have sinned and prays for them. It may be that my sons have sinned. It is not making the feasts that is sinful. It is the lack of gratitude and lack of faith. “They may have cursed God in their hearts”. They took the gifts and turned away from God. They did not say thank you for all this in their hearts.
Finally, we read that “Thus did Job continually.” Godliness is not a once-off event. It is not a sinners prayer that was offered once in the past. That fear of God should grow in us as we progress in our Christian life. A mature Christian will understand the importance of prayer and the need of seeking God’s mercy and grace every day, every hour. The Apostle Paul says: “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thes. 5:17. Take an example from Job. He was waking up every day, likely before the sunrise, to seek God’s forgiveness and blessing for the day to come.
Can we learn gratitude from Job? Job is certainly outlined in the Bible as a person we should learn from. He was prayerful and thankful for all he had, according to the number of them all. Can we see our own ingratitude? How many things do we receive yet do not thank our Father in heaven and do not acknowledge God as the source of the blessing? We tend to forget so many times…
Let us acknowledge before God that all we have we received from Him. It is God who gave us our lives. Make it a continues habit to thank Him as often as you can. Remember that He offers you eternal life. Always remember what He did for you through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Rom. 8:32
