The Simple Life

Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die." 10 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 of this, Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:9-10 Job seemed to be in this alone. His wife, who was created to be a helpmate, was no help. In fact, this has to be the worst advice ever given to anyone. What kind of logical thinking tells someone to curse God and then die and face God? On a human level, Job had nothing going for him. His beloved children were gone, his money was gone, his possessions were gone, his health was gone, and now his wife, the only human left to comfort him, was anything but comforting. Do you think you have things rough today? Will you use your circumstances to gain pity for yourself, focus on yourself, or as an excuse for your sin? You will be sorry. If you are disappointed with God, you do not know Him. If y...

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you." Then 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  1:18-22 What? There is no "Where is God when I am in pain?" routine. There are no questions such as "How could a good God allow the universe not to revolve around my comfort?" Where was Job's head at? Perhaps it was where it should have been. While Satan and Job's family and friends focused on things, Job wa...

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. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." Job 1:9 -10 There is a war, a real war, between God and Satan, and we are the prize. Satan schemes and deceives, whereas God informs and gives us a chance to decide honestly. This war is about the very concept of love. Satan was counting on Job to believe that God's love was demonstrated by the "blessings" he received. Satan was counting on Job, thinking that if he behaved properly, God would love and continue providing him with material blessings. Satan equated "stuff," "power," and "money" with love. How silly. Love has never been about stuff, and those in horrible situations today are still loved...

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. Job 1:1 It is possible. One can be wealthy, have many children and responsibilities, and be blameless and upright. It is not money, possessions, or power that are corrupt. It is sin that corrupts. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us that you cannot serve God and money. Job was serving God. Jesus tells us that you can summarize Christianity in the idea of loving God and loving man. Job loved God and loved man. Things do not cause problems. We cause problems with the things that we have. If we have come to trust anything other than God, we are not blameless and upright or fearing God. God did not create you to enjoy this earth, but to enjoy Himself; then you can enjoy this earth. The order matters immensely. https://www.podbean.com/relate365