Old and Full of Days

Job 1:1-“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.”

As you begin reading in the book of Job, you immediately see the kind of man Job was. He was “perfect” (complete, sound, wholesome, having integrity), a righteous man, feared the Lord, and turned away from evil. In just one short verse we read a definition of a man that was well pleasing in God’s sight. Wouldn’t you like to be defined in those same terms?! Job had a large family, large estate, was wealthy, and respected. Job 1:3 says he “was the greatest of all the men of the east.”

Satan was convinced that Job was only faithful to God because of all the blessings the Lord had given him. So, he, Satan, swoops in and destroys everything Job has, including his family. Look at Job’s response to this great loss, Job 1:20-22, “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” Can you imagine losing everything? Your earthly possessions, your livelihood, your family? And, your response? Falling down and worshipping God?! Unfortunately, most of us fret and worry about tomorrow over much smaller problems. In chapter 2 of Job we find out that Satan is not happy with Job’s response. He claims that surely Job will curse God if his own health fails. Job is then covered head to toe in ugly, painful, stinky, disgusting boils. His wife counsels him to curse God and die. His response? He rebukes his wife!

Finally Job cannot take it anymore, and he laments even the night he was conceived in Job 3. In Job chapters 4-31 Job and his friends go back and forth discussing why these things have happened to him. His friends blame him, saying he must have committed a terrible sin, and Job defends himself, claiming innocence. In Job 38-39 the Lord rebukes Job, reminding Job how wonderful and powerful God is. Job 40:3-5, Job confesses that he basically should have kept his mouth shut about his complaints and the reasons why things were happening. In Job 42:1-6, we read Job’s final confession of sin and his declaration to repent. In the end, Job was blessed even more than before in family, friends, and possessions.

What can we learn from Job? What wisdom can his life impart to our own lives?

Worship God and be thankful no matter what happens in your life.

God sent His Son to die for our sins. This DEMANDS our gratitude no matter our physical state or how many material possessions we own.

1Cor. 6:20

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

Col. 3:17

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Are you giving God your all? Do your works in sunshine and rain please God? Do they bring glory to Him?

Be contented and happy.

The Bible teaches us that we should be content with where we are in our lives and with the things we have. There should not be a constant longing for more or different things or circumstances.

Heb. 13:5- “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

I Tim. 6:6- “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Phil. 4:11- “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

The things we can learn from Job will help us live a better life of service to God, and He will greatly bless us in this life and in eternity. Remember, blessings are not measured in dollars and cents, blessings are the little things God gives us that bring us true joy: your spouse, your parents, your children, the quiet peaceful rain, our brothers and sisters in Christ, beautiful sunsets, the night sky full of stars. Look around, and you’ll see, you’re just as blessed as Job. If you live your life glorifying God and being content with what you’ve got, you’ll realize just how much you have, and your life can end the same way Job’s did....

Job 42:17

“So Job died, being old and full of days.”