AFFLICTION AND RUIN... BUT I STILL LOVE YOU, LORD!
- Key Verse
"Then the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.'" (Job 2:3)
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
Even during times of affliction, we should continue to love God and show our devotion and obedience to Him.
Reflections
What was Satan’s intention with God and Job? Satan was trying to prove that man’s love and devotion toward God can be bought. Surely man cannot show steadfast love when everything is taken away! Satan was eager to take on God’s best, Job, and reduce him to ruins. Job would then deny God’s significance, proving God wrong. Job became the test subject for this “Unshakable Love Despite Circumstances” challenge.
Three Points to Ponder:
1. Prosperity is not always good; affliction is not always bad.
There was a belief in that time that God prospered the righteous and afflicted the wicked. Certainly we have all thought affliction was a punishment at one point in our lives. God is too complex and mysterious for this simplistic formula. Besides, people handle circumstances differently. When it comes to running toward God, prosperity is not always a good thing and affliction is not always a bad thing.
2. My behavior in a trial matters and reveals my loyalties.
Job deserves a “well done” so far. He has not cursed God or sinned despite the pain. In pondering our own trials, there is rarely much we can do to change their course. We must endure. What becomes important is our behavior during the trial and after it is over. Think about it. Will I lament my life and claim “woe is me” or will I rely on God’s providence? In reality, our relationship with God and how we perceive Him is what is really "on trial," so…
3. Is God your true friend, acquaintance, or stranger?
Ask yourself this question. You know a true friend wants the best for you. However, you don’t necessarily believe this about a stranger. If God is an acquaintance, we may blame Him and consider him unjust when a trial comes. If He's a stranger, we may reason life is meaningless or run to some idol for comfort. When God is your true friend, you trust that the painful trial is for your benefit. With that attitude, you can run toward God and steadfastly love Him, just like Job.
Discussion Questions
1. Please read Proverbs 30:8-9 and John 9:1-3. What does the Bible say about prosperity and affliction in these passages?
2. Katy and I struggled in the area of intimacy during our first two years of marriage. I blamed her and God. After much pain and woe, I finally trusted in Him, and learned a lot about myself. Sins were revealed. Also, I had done major damage in our relationship. It took years, but God mended us and grew us both through that trial. Do you have a story where your behavior was destructive in a trial until you trusted God? Are you in a hardship now and need to trust Him?
3. Can you dream up a very painful trial where you would find it extremely difficult to still love and trust God? Why would it be difficult for you?
Thom Kurtz
March 2, 2010 06:30 AM
I have often found Job to be very difficult for me, but your devotion this morning is very helpful. Thanks, Craig, for sharing with us, and also for the inspired reflections.
Chip Smith
March 2, 2010 07:37 AM
Craig, your log this morning is very thought provoking. I like that. I have always gravitated towards problem solving, that is probably why I was attracted to computer programming as a young man. In programming, it helps to know what outcome or solution you are after, such as a + b = c. Pretty simple, huh? If your program is good, you can give it a computation (question) and it will give you a reliable solution. For instance: Why does God allow evil? Now, I said all this because sometimes the outcome of a program is not the solution we want and therefore we reject the program. Satan here is trying to get Job to rewrite the program by throwing some very difficult computations at him. Job, however, knows and trusts the Programmer, so he trusts the program even though it seems the outcome is not what anyone would desire. So what is the equation here? man + God = integrity. The main variable that is constant is God, who is integrity. So if it is that simple, why do we ourselves try to rewrite the program and put bugs into it? Your "Points to Ponder" and questions give us reliable ways to see if we are attempting to rewrite the program to suit the results we want. Great job on Job!
Tim Hawks
March 2, 2010 07:51 AM
Thank you, Craig, for an insightful, thought provoking devotional today. I can't get Job's questions out of my head. "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Trust is trust, plain and simple. Trusting God only in the good times is not trust.
Amy Baker
March 2, 2010 08:03 AM
Craig, thanks for the good word today. This whole story reminds me that I do not have to understand God in order to trust him fully. I don't LIKE that, but I cannot escape it.
Mark Sutton
March 2, 2010 08:32 AM
Craig, Thanks for the devotion and questions to work through. I may not understand the circumstances God allows for me. I do know without a doubt that God never lets me down and is the true friend that wants the best for me.
Ronda
March 2, 2010 10:07 AM
Chip's comments helped me look at Job in a new way. Maybe I am a computer programmer who missed my calling, but that made a lot of sense to me: man + God = integrity. It seems to sum up the book of Job in three words. Another passage that explores the theme of suffering, Hosea 6:1-3
Beckye Estill
March 2, 2010 12:58 PM
Excellent job on this, Craig! You are so right. We often look at circumstances incorrectly rather than from God's perspective, judging them as good or bad according to how comfortable they make us. And God is looking to see our response in those situations. May we be faithful as Job was and trust God when He allows suffering in our lives.
Joy Covell
March 2, 2010 01:16 PM
Thanks for your authenticity about intimay Craig; if more of us admitted where we struggle, Satan wouldn't have the advantage he does when try to keep things secret during a trial.
March 2, 2010 01:55 PM
Thanks for reminding us that: "When God is your true friend, you trust that the painful trial is for your benefit. With that attitude, you can run toward God and steadfastly love Him, just like Job." May we all develop a true friendship with God and not see him as just an acquaintance or a stranger. Marilyn
Mary
March 3, 2010 10:12 PM
Craig, Good reminder. At the age of 61, one could think, "I've seen it all". In this latest trial my sisters have continued to remind me, trust in God. So I humbly ask, What is next, God?" Thank you for sisters, Jesus. The formula is simple, the out come is up to God. It is not just how much I trust God; also how much He trusts me. In His Care, Mary in CA. Please sign me up for the daily devotions.
randy
March 4, 2010 10:26 AM
Craig, Thank you for not only sharing this devo, but for being there for me and my family brother! Blessings!!
Rob White
March 19, 2010 07:32 AM
Craig, Thank you for being open and sharing. Also thanks for the great job you do with worship at the edge. Rob