Today we will be looking at important scripture that affect our daily live as believers. Our Text is taken from the book of JOB 21:1-20,- which is going to be our point of interest.
“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit” Eccl7:8
Man is created with intelligence and inquisitive mind that will normally ask questions. Questions reveal the ignorance of man and the desire for more knowledge. Questioning is the mother of all invention and revolutions. The omniscience God Himself ask questions from man even though He asked not out of ignorance but so that man may put his reasoning faculty into use and discover his state. Fortunately, the Christian faith does not take this liberty from the converted. Unlike some other religions, we are expected to question our faith and subject it to intellectual examination. God permits this because the more an unbiased and sincere rational mind questions word of God, the more he discovers God.
In fact some passages on the Bible are designed, written and translated in such a way as to force man to ask questions and make research to seek for answers. Any faith that forbids man from questioning its logicality and statements is a fake and deceitful faith. Jesus was asked so many questions by both friend and foes, religious and irreligious, young and old, wise and the foolish. It is on record that no question went unanswered.
On few occasions, He used silence to make His answers obvious. His answers to questions at times brings more depth and clarity to heavenly issues which we could not have gotten otherwise. In the text, the often asked question, “Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea are mighty in power” received clearer answers in the New Testament where there is the perfection of revelation compared to the time of Job when there was no Bible. We go through some of the things observed and we examine the question Objectively with an open mind.
1. Unbalanced observation about the wicked
a. Their longevity and power
“They attained old age and they have influence”, v7.
A. They used their money for good feeding and can afford good medical care. Money is power and obviously they will be influential. The question is, doesn’t the righteous have promises of supernatural healing, good health and longevity? Doesn’t the righteous have supernatural power that will even be making the wicked to seek for his help? Job’s argument here is weak.
b. Their people
They transfer their blessings to their offerings and their children are happy, vv8,11.
B. Do we blame them for being wise as to transfer the good things they have to their offerings? The faith of the believer is “more precious than silver and gold”. What hinders the righteous from transferring their precious and priceless faith to their offsprings? The faith in its own can bring wealth and other things money can and cannot bring. Are we enthusiastically transferring them to our children?
c. Their property
Their property is well secured because they could afford security expenses, v9.
C. The thieves steal from the rich and bothers less about the poor. There is nothing strange in the wealthy using their wealth for protection. The righteous have angelic protections as promised in Psalm 91. If the righteous do not have faith for this protection, then what do they have faith for?
d. Their productivity
Their business do prosper, v10.
D. Did anybody ask the righteous not to use his intelligence coupled with the promises of God and prosper? Should the righteous not prosper better when he is serving the God of prosperity?
e. Their pleasure
They and their children live in enjoyment and pleasure, vv12,13.
E. Wealth is good, Can wealth replace the joy and the peace of God that arr available only for the righteous? “In Thy right hand is pleasure for evermore”. Which one is more important, the pleasure of the world or the pleasures given by the Holy Spirit? In any case Job assumed that outer and physical demonstration of pleasure is genuine pleasure forgetting the internal frustration they face. Why do the rich commits suicide? Why do their marriages end up in divorce? Why do incurable sicknesses kill them if they are truly in lasting pleasures?
f. Their pride
They are proud and pompous and at times boast that they don’t need God, vv14,15.
F. The rich in this world are poor in the things of God in general while the poor see the need for God and seek after God. It is better to be poor and seek after God and end up in heaven eternally than to be rich and forget God and end it up in hell fire forever. What is your preference?
g. Their prosperity
They are wealthy, v13.
G. Is anybody asking the righteous to remain poor? Abraham was righteous and got wealth. In fact, except for vicissitudes of life, Job himself was the wealthiest in his locality in his days? So why questioning as if only the wicked must be wealthy?
h. Their posterity
Their children eventually suffer the punishments for the sins of their fathers, v19.
H. Partially right. “The seed of the wicked can never be renowned”. However, if their seed repent and do not follow the evils of their fathers, God will show mercy and break the cycle of wickedness.
2. The indisputable fact of life
a. Most of the complaints of Job are based on ignorance of the will of God for the righteous. It was normal. Such an extreme pain makes someone not to think right.
b. The righteous is well posed to be better than the unrighteous in all spheres of life. Even though some wicked got wealth through unrighteous means, believers suppose to get through righteous means. Believers, in addition have the backing of the promises of God to succeed in life above the wicked. In fact, He promised, “Ye shall be the head and not the tail”. “Whatever you lay your hand upon shall prosper”. “I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health”. Sinners should be jealous of believers and not conversely according to God’s plan.
c. “My people perish because of lack of knowledge”. Ignorance and lack of bold steps of faith keep the righteous from getting the best in life.
d. The strongest and the truest point Job mentioned about the wicked is their end, vv17-20. A prophet in Psalm 73, who supposed to know better than Job, had a similar problem. His confusion was ended when he said, “until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then understood their end,…so foolish was I and ignorant”, Psalm 73:17,22. In any case, it is better to live in penury and wake up in Abraham’s bosom eternally than to enjoy the pleasure of this life and end up eternally in the fire of sulphur.
Prayer points
Give glory to God because all you need is in Christ
Ask for more knowledge and faith that will make you to enjoy the best God has for you
Pray for understanding and wisdom not to be deceived by the things of this world
Pray for the brethren than none will be deceived to prefer the things of this to heavenly riches
*Read, Meditate, Pray and Share this message to others and the Lord bless you immensely. Amen.
