Job 31:24-25, 28 (NIV)
24
"If I have put my
trust in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my
security,'...
25
if I have rejoiced over my great
wealth, the fortune my hands had gained,
24
"If I have put my
trust in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my
security,'...
25
if I have rejoiced over my great
wealth, the fortune my hands had gained,
28
then these also would be sins to be judged,
for I would have been unfaithful to God on
high.
Job continued his defense before his friends.
He told how he always helped the needy and
took good care of his workers. He said that
he was consistent to do those things
because he had a fear of God. He knew God
required it of him, and that he would be
judged if he did not. As we look at Job's
defense, few of us can say that our lives
come anywhere close to Job's. Yet, the real
standard is not Job but Jesus Christ. Thank
God for sending His Son to be the sacrifice
for our sins.
In the passage today, Job says that he did
not trust in his great wealth. Jesus told us it
was very hard for the rich to enter the
Kingdom of God. Job seems to have been
one of the few who could be trusted with
wealth but not rely on it for security. He
recognized that provision came from God.
Though he labors to earn income, God is the
Provider. How many of us can be just as
secure when our bank accounts are
bottoming out as when they are bulging?
That can only come when we see God is our
security regardless of how much we
possess.
He did not even rejoice over his wealth. It is
one thing to be thankful and another to find
joy in something. Our joy should always be
the presence of God in our lives. When
wealth becomes our reason for rejoicing we
are turning it into an idol that takes God's
place. Job said that both trusting in wealth
for security and finding your joy in wealth
were both sins to be judged. Both are
unfaithfulness to God.
Dear reader, pause and consider if wealth
has taken God's place in your heart as the
reason you rejoice. Let us guard our hearts
so that we are not seduced by wealth to
worship another god. In this passage, he
groups this sin with worship of the sun and
moon, other gods. If you have fallen in this
area of making wealth a god, confess your
sin, and put God back in His rightful place in
your heart. See that He alone is your security
and your greatest joy.
then these also would be sins to be judged,
for I would have been unfaithful to God on
high.
Job continued his defense before his friends.
He told how he always helped the needy and
took good care of his workers. He said that
he was consistent to do those things
because he had a fear of God. He knew God
required it of him, and that he would be
judged if he did not. As we look at Job's
defense, few of us can say that our lives
come anywhere close to Job's. Yet, the real
standard is not Job but Jesus Christ. Thank
God for sending His Son to be the sacrifice
for our sins.
In the passage today, Job says that he did
not trust in his great wealth. Jesus told us it
was very hard for the rich to enter the
Kingdom of God. Job seems to have been
one of the few who could be trusted with
wealth but not rely on it for security. He
recognized that provision came from God.
Though he labors to earn income, God is the
Provider. How many of us can be just as
secure when our bank accounts are
bottoming out as when they are bulging?
That can only come when we see God is our
security regardless of how much we
possess.
He did not even rejoice over his wealth. It is
one thing to be thankful and another to find
joy in something. Our joy should always be
the presence of God in our lives. When
wealth becomes our reason for rejoicing we
are turning it into an idol that takes God's
place. Job said that both trusting in wealth
for security and finding your joy in wealth
were both sins to be judged. Both are
unfaithfulness to God.
Dear reader, pause and consider if wealth
has taken God's place in your heart as the
reason you rejoice. Let us guard our hearts
so that we are not seduced by wealth to
worship another god. In this passage, he
groups this sin with worship of the sun and
moon, other gods. If you have fallen in this
area of making wealth a god, confess your
sin, and put God back in His rightful place in
your heart. See that He alone is your security
and your greatest joy.
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