SCRIPTURE: Job 27
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The wicked go to bed rich but wake to find that all their wealth is gone. [Job 27:19]
No one would argue that building a home on the beach, made out of sand, would be foolish.
Obviously, it is only a matter of time that the walls will erode, and a storm will dissolve the house for good.
Job is describing something similar when he describes the life of the godless (those who reject God) and the ungodly (those who live un-God-like lives).
For a season (maybe their whole life here on earth), it may seem to go well for them, but it is only a matter of time that their walls will erode, and a storm will dissolve their lives for good.
They may go to bed rich, but one day they will wake up and their wealth will be gone.
Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” [Luke 12:15-21]
Jesus echoes this lesson in this story – and summarizes it with his lesson: a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God!
With God in our lives, all our wealth seems irrelevant – we are rich in Him no matter what we have.
Without God in our lives, all our wealth is irrelevant – we are poor without Him no matter what we have.
Better to be rich in God and without money in this life, than rich in this life and without God.
The dispute between Job and his friends has to do with how they are interpreting his situation.
They are saying that because he is suffering, and has lost his wealth, he must be godless and ungodly.
But Job is refuting this, saying that all of his life he has determined to love, honour and serve God.
Both Job and his friends agree that life without God, against God, will lead to misery and loss.
And Jesus agrees with this too.
Do I spend more time trying to “eat, drink and be merry” than I do trying to have a rich relationship with God?
I need to consider how I prioritize my time, how much effort I put into knowing God more and better – talking with Him, listening to Him, being like Him.
Job’s heart was rich towards God before his suffering began; this did not guarantee an easy life for him, but it did give him the spiritual resources to endure his trial.
Am I rich towards God right now, will I have the spiritual resources to endure any future trials I may face?
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to make a rich relationship with You my top priority. I want to know You, to be strong in You, and to find my greatest joy in You. Make me spiritually rich, strong, blessed!
That is a beautiful inspiring poem.
What it says is so true !
.All of my life I will praise the living God’ seem to be the words that Job is speaking. It is the breathe of God which gives him life. His tongue will speak words of truth and he remains a man of integrity. He continues to teach about the power of the Almighty and His ways. Job is a man whose house was built upon the rock.
All those who do not put their trust in God are like those who build their house upon the sand which will not stand and will be like the east wind which carries all things away.
Lord, help me from day to day to build upon the rock of Jesus Christ – my foundation of life today.
I have journeyed through the long, dark night
Out on the open sea,
By faith alone, sight unknown,
And yet His eyes were watching me.
I’ve had visions and I’ve had dreams;
Well I’ve even held them in my hands,
But I never knew those dreams could slip right through
Like they were only grains of sand.
Now I have been young, but I am older now.
O and there has been beauty these eyes have seen;
But it was in the night, when I faced the storms of my life.
Oh, that’s where God proved His love to me.
CH: The Anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The Anchor holds, though the sails are torn.
I have fallen, fallen down on my knees
as I faced the raging seas.
But the Anchor holds; O, in spite of the storm.