KEEP PERSPECTIVE!

KEEP PERSPECTIVE!

And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” —Job 1

            All his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, most of his servants and all his children were stolen or killed.  Then he also lost his health and the support of his wife (Job 1-3).  This all happened in a very short time frame.  And yet—

Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. —Job 1:20-22

            How many would be quick to blame God and lash out at Him?  How many would even consider that this was Satan at work and not God.  Yes, God allowed Satan to act but only to fulfill His greater purposes in and through Job’s life.  Do we fully know God’s ways?  Of course not!  Job had a proper perspective on coming into the world with nothing and leaving with nothing.  He also understood that the Lord gives and the Lord can take away.  That is His prerogative.  Again though, Job does not appear to understand Satan’s hand in all of this.

            How sad in this situation that Job even loses the support of his wife—

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”  But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. —Job 2:9-10

            The one closest to him on earth actually encourages him to do what Satan desired— to curse God.  Oh how the Evil One enjoys it when people blame God for what Satan himself does.  He just desires people to curse God.  He gets  a perverted joy out of it!  Yet all that is happening to Job is because he is a righteous man.  Not a perfect man, but a righteous man and God was proving that by allowing these things to happen to Job.  Does this book leave us with questions?  Yes, but it surely gives us perspective on suffering and how much we do not understand about God’s purposes in it.  But be assured of this— “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (II Corinthians 4:17).  They may not seem light or momentary, but they are compared to eternity!  It will make sense one day… in glory… when we are finally home!

Dear Father please give me proper perspective in suffering by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRSGXKsv7IU