What would you do if you lost your money, all your belongings, including the death of your children? What would you do?
This happened to Job. In order for God to teach angelic beings, the humans involved, including teaching Satan, God agreed that Satan, with limits, could take all that Job owned in order to see if Job would curse his God.
These losses occurred very quickly. While one servant was informing Job of a loss, another servant arrived with more bad news. Very quickly, Job lost it all. This is easy to read, but stop for a moment and ask yourself, what you would do if this actually happened to you?
What did Job say about all of this loss? “He said: “I was naked when I was born, and I will be naked when I die. The Lord gave these things to me, and he has taken them away. Praise the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or blame God.” (Job 1:21-22 NCV)
It gets worse.
Then God allowed Satan to cover Job with boils all over his body to see if Job would curse God. Even “Job’s wife said to him, “Why are you trying to stay innocent? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9 NCV)
Wow. How would like a wife like that? “Job answered, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Should we take only good things from God and not trouble?” In spite of all this Job did not sin in what he said.” (Job 2:10 NCV)
After a lot of harassment from his friends as they said Job must have sinned and this was the reason for his bad experiences, God finally shut down his friends and even Job’s complaints. And Job had good reason to complain. It got so bad, he cursed the day he was born. He had lost his possessions, his children and now his health.
In the very end, God gave Job twice as much before his previous wealth and Job lived to be an old man enjoying his new children and grandchildren. This is a reflection of our eternity if we are a Christ follower. Based on scriptures, God never revealed why Job was tested. I suppose in some ways, Job did not need to know.
He was satisfied knowing God loves, always loves and has a divine plan to bring you and I a full and eternal life if we will call his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
In the end, we keep nothing. In the end, we die and leave it all behind. Our goal is to share the story of salvation to those who don’t know it. Our purpose is to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. And our deep desires should always be to love others as much as we love ourself.
Why?
Because the only two things that really matter in this world is God’s word, and people. Those will last forever and into eternity. So enjoy your things and enjoy this life, but try your best to live out the purpose of knowing God’s word, loving him and loving others. Those things last forever.
LORD, please give us the trust and love for you that Job had. IJNIP amen ♥️
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