Recently I sat down and reread the story of the exodus. In the process I noticed something that caught me a bit off guard. God set Moses up to fail. As a matter of fact, God called, equipped, motivated, and even relocated Moses only to ensure in that his initial attempts would fail.
I am sure you know the story. Moses was the adopted prince of Egypt who was well in touch with his Hebrew heritage. One day as he was out visiting his people he saw an Egyptian abusing a Hebrew and in a fit of rage killed him and ditched the body in the sand. Word got back to Pharaoh who decided that Moses should die. Realizing the danger, Moses fled Egypt and ended up in Midian where he took a job as a shepherd watching the flocks of his eventual father-in-law Jethro. In search of food, Moses led the flock to the Mountain of God, Horeb. While he was there, God showed up in a burning bush and invited Moses to go back to Egypt and deliver his people from Egyptian slavery. There was a bit of a disagreement as to Moses' qualifications. Moses believed that he didn't have the right stuff, and God said, "EXACTLY! That's why you're the man." Eventually God convinced him, showed him some supernatural tricks he could do with his staff to help convince Pharaoh, and Moses and his family were off to Egypt!
Exodus 4:19-21 (NIV)
Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead." 20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand. 21 The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go."
Now I don't know if Moses thought like I think, but this idea of obeying to fail is not something I naturally gravitate to. As a matter of fact, fearing to fail is a much more apt description of my mindset. On more than one occasion I have uttered the words, "Failure is not an option." Yet when I look at this story I find God instructing Moses to brace himself for failure and rejection.
Why would God instruct us to do something that would ensure, at least initially, failure? There are probably a number of reasons, but I think that two transcend the rest: 1) God wants the glory; 2) There are lessons that we need to learn that only the laboratory of failure can teach us.
First, God wants the glory. Jesus told us that unless we abide in him we can accomplish nothing. And in Isaiah 57:15 we learn who God abides with: "For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."
God abides in heaven where He is always glorified. At the same time, He dwells with those who are contrite and lowly in spirit. Why? Because the contrite and lowly in spirit are not glory thieves. They have met with failure and have learned to appreciate success. Uninterrupted success makes a glory thief. The person who succeeds may not want it that way, they don't set out to steal God's glory, but the celebrity of success ultimately diminishes the recognition of God's role in a great work. If a person has never met with failure, people will begin to believe that success is dependent upon the leader and not God.
Second, there are lessons that we need to learn that can only be learned through failure. Robert F. Kennedy said, "Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." Think about it and you will realize that the scripture is chock-full of great leaders who enjoyed colossal failure. However, it was in the crucible of failure that they were equipped to succeed.
Peter was divinely selected to be the leader of the twelve. On one occasion his great faith in Jesus compelled him to hop out of a boat in an attempt to walk on water. He was successful until he he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink. Lesson learned: Stay focused on the Lord!
On another occasion Peter was praised for revealing a truth that was clearly sent from God. He immediately followed that up with some unsolicited advice to Jesus, insisting that he NOT give in to dying. Jesus responded, "Get thee behind me Satan!" OUCH!!! Lesson learned: Following Jesus demands self-sacrifice!
Many times the lessons of failure give us the ingredients for success. When it comes to failure we need to amend our perspective: FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION, IT IS A NECESSITY!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
God Finally Speaks
As Job's friends insistence that Job was experiencing the judgment of God due to sin crescendos through the book, Job's plea narrows. He stops asking his friends to hear him out and turns his attention to God. In Job 13:22 he articulates his plea challenging God, "Then summon me and I will answer, or let me speak and you reply." His idea was that if he could just get an audience with the almighty, if God would just hear him out, he would acknowledge Job's righteousness and then would explain exactly what was going on.
As we wrap up here, we need to be settled on the fact that Job was not wrong. He was a righteous man. Remember when Satan sauntered into God's presence, it was God who called Satan's attention to Job: "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" (Job 1:8). As I have pointed out before, Job was all that and a bag of chips! He was the bomb! So he knew that he wasn't being punished for some besetting sin. What he really wanted was for God to show up and let his friends know the truth, and, while he was at it, God could explain himself to the group.
While Job was asking for an explanation, God knew that what he needed was a revelation. Job knew some things about God but the problem was that he didn't have a sense of what he didn't know. What he knew was right, but it was woefully incomplete. In Job 38:2 God says, "Who is this that darkens My counsel with words without knowledge?" In other words, "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? Your argument, while trimmed in eloquence, is laced with ignorance. You may know about me but you don't know me, Job."
In chapters 38-41 of the book, God issues 77 questions to Job to help him understand that you don't know what you don't know. In asking His questions, God never answers Job's. But he reveals himself to Job. At the end of the book Job recognizes that God is really all he ever needed. "My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you" (Job 42:5). Job still had questions but now he had God. And the bottom line for Job was that he would rather have life with God and questions than life without God and answers.
As we wrap up here, we need to be settled on the fact that Job was not wrong. He was a righteous man. Remember when Satan sauntered into God's presence, it was God who called Satan's attention to Job: "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" (Job 1:8). As I have pointed out before, Job was all that and a bag of chips! He was the bomb! So he knew that he wasn't being punished for some besetting sin. What he really wanted was for God to show up and let his friends know the truth, and, while he was at it, God could explain himself to the group.
While Job was asking for an explanation, God knew that what he needed was a revelation. Job knew some things about God but the problem was that he didn't have a sense of what he didn't know. What he knew was right, but it was woefully incomplete. In Job 38:2 God says, "Who is this that darkens My counsel with words without knowledge?" In other words, "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? Your argument, while trimmed in eloquence, is laced with ignorance. You may know about me but you don't know me, Job."
In chapters 38-41 of the book, God issues 77 questions to Job to help him understand that you don't know what you don't know. In asking His questions, God never answers Job's. But he reveals himself to Job. At the end of the book Job recognizes that God is really all he ever needed. "My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you" (Job 42:5). Job still had questions but now he had God. And the bottom line for Job was that he would rather have life with God and questions than life without God and answers.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Patience of Job?
When we hear talk of Job, the word that is attached to him is patience. His patience has become proverbial, how this man of impeccable integrity kept his faith in the midst of the most devastating storm imaginable. So tradition tells us that we should celebrate the patience of Job.
Where does that idea come from? I read the book and I'm not sure that what I see in Job is patience! In my home, when my boys are having a problem, any problem, they think they have to talk about it immediately. Without regard to what anyone else is doing or talking about, they interrupt, spewing forth an impassioned plea for relief. Sometimes their issue warrants attention, and sometimes we ask them to wait just a minute. Generally, one of two things happen: They either completely ignore our instruction and tell us the same story LOUDER or they wait about 15 seconds and ask if a minute is up. To this I almost always impatiently respond: Be patient!
The sign of their impatience is the interruption, the need to talk about it immediately. The fact that we make them wait doesn't indicate that they are patient, it indicates that we are in control and they have to wait whether they like it or not.
Job had to wait too. But that doesn't mean he was patient. God was in control. He was going to address Job when He was ready to address him. But any cursory reading of Job's monologues would lead one to conclude that Job was anxious for God's response.
Where does this concept of Job's patience originate? The first and only time that this word is specifically linked to Job in scripture is in James 5:11 (KJV); "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." See, even James had heard of the patience of Job.
But upon further inspection, the original Greek word that is translated patience is best translated as endurance or perseverance. Point of fact, the word translated "endure" in the first part of the verse is the verb form of the same word that is translated "patience" in the second part.
You may think that I'm splitting hairs here, but to me endurance or perseverance is the way to go because endurance is heroic.
The heroic example of Job shines through his endurance. He persevered through the unthinkable with his faith intact. He may have begged for his day in court so he could state his case to God, but it was with full faith that he was bringing his case to the one true God. He never wavered on his faith, understanding that if he persevered, he would come out a better man in the end. "When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." (Job 23:10)
A. W. Tozer put it this way in Roots of Righteousness, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He’s hurt him deeply.” Do you believe that?
James does. Using the same Greek word for perseverance, James writes this about our suffering: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
Where does that idea come from? I read the book and I'm not sure that what I see in Job is patience! In my home, when my boys are having a problem, any problem, they think they have to talk about it immediately. Without regard to what anyone else is doing or talking about, they interrupt, spewing forth an impassioned plea for relief. Sometimes their issue warrants attention, and sometimes we ask them to wait just a minute. Generally, one of two things happen: They either completely ignore our instruction and tell us the same story LOUDER or they wait about 15 seconds and ask if a minute is up. To this I almost always impatiently respond: Be patient!
The sign of their impatience is the interruption, the need to talk about it immediately. The fact that we make them wait doesn't indicate that they are patient, it indicates that we are in control and they have to wait whether they like it or not.
Job had to wait too. But that doesn't mean he was patient. God was in control. He was going to address Job when He was ready to address him. But any cursory reading of Job's monologues would lead one to conclude that Job was anxious for God's response.
Where does this concept of Job's patience originate? The first and only time that this word is specifically linked to Job in scripture is in James 5:11 (KJV); "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." See, even James had heard of the patience of Job.
But upon further inspection, the original Greek word that is translated patience is best translated as endurance or perseverance. Point of fact, the word translated "endure" in the first part of the verse is the verb form of the same word that is translated "patience" in the second part.
You may think that I'm splitting hairs here, but to me endurance or perseverance is the way to go because endurance is heroic.
- Patience tolerates setbacks with indifference, endurance seeks to redeem them.
- Patience says, "Wake me up when it is over." Perseverance says, "I won't quit no matter what happens!"
- Patience sits back and waits quietly (without interruption) for the storm to pass while endurance sits up and engages the storm.
- Patience believes it will soon be over while endurance believes we will soon be better.
The heroic example of Job shines through his endurance. He persevered through the unthinkable with his faith intact. He may have begged for his day in court so he could state his case to God, but it was with full faith that he was bringing his case to the one true God. He never wavered on his faith, understanding that if he persevered, he would come out a better man in the end. "When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." (Job 23:10)
A. W. Tozer put it this way in Roots of Righteousness, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He’s hurt him deeply.” Do you believe that?
James does. Using the same Greek word for perseverance, James writes this about our suffering: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
Monday, February 23, 2009
... But I Don't Know What to Say!?!
One of the toughest things about being a believer committed to serving the needs of others is knowing what to do or say when a friend is going through a difficult time. Outside of our families, most of our relationships are forged around the best foot. We get to know people on their terms, as they want us to see them, and that is with their best foot forward. So when the storms of life and death are raging, we aren't sure how to relate.
We want to help, but we don't know what to say. We lack confidence in our ability to be a friend and, in the end, we actually fear making things worse for the one who is hurting -- like Job's friends did.
After losing all ten of his children and his good health, Job needed to get some things off of his chest. Faced with the fact that they could do nothing to relieve Job, his friends got angry at him. Since they couldn't explain what was happening to him, they told him it was his fault. They informed him that if he had been righteous this never would have happened. In their anger, they said Job actually was getting what he deserved.
What in the world were they thinking? Why did they feel like they had to explain what was happening? Why couldn't they just listen in silence?
Two things are going on here.
First, they got angry at themselves and took it out on Job. They were angry that they couldn't relieve Job's pain. Friends feel the need to fix things. When questions need to be answered, we want to provide the answers. When there is pain, we want to soothe it. They went there hoping to help but ultimately couldn't. They were frustrated and angry and their response to their own failure multiplied Job's pain.
The second thing that was going on here was that Job's friends were trying to fill a role that was not theirs to fill. In their desire to make things better, they took on God's job, attempting to answer questions that they mistakenly thought needed to be answered. But they misread the need. Job's cries and questions may have been expressed to them, but they were directed to God. So they applied the Band-Aid of bumper sticker theology, thinking that saying the right thing would make it all better. But it didn't because it can't. Knowing what caused a storm doesn't diminsh its damage.
In Job 16, he finally tells his friends that he has had enough of thier heartless babble. They had neither provided comfort nor answered his questions. They missed it altogether!
He didn't need them to play God and provide answers. They didn't have to be theologians and psychologists. He just needed them to be there and provide support. He needed them to listen without responding, to help him secure the daily bread that would sustain him in his time of grief.
And that is exactly what our friends need. When we have friends going through the storms of life we must commit to be there. Then we go, not trying to take the pain away committed to doing our part to relieve the pressure that accompanies the pain. And when we don't know what to say, we choose not to say anything at all. Our presence in a storm answers the one question that must be answered: Does anyone care?
We want to help, but we don't know what to say. We lack confidence in our ability to be a friend and, in the end, we actually fear making things worse for the one who is hurting -- like Job's friends did.
After losing all ten of his children and his good health, Job needed to get some things off of his chest. Faced with the fact that they could do nothing to relieve Job, his friends got angry at him. Since they couldn't explain what was happening to him, they told him it was his fault. They informed him that if he had been righteous this never would have happened. In their anger, they said Job actually was getting what he deserved.
What in the world were they thinking? Why did they feel like they had to explain what was happening? Why couldn't they just listen in silence?
Two things are going on here.
First, they got angry at themselves and took it out on Job. They were angry that they couldn't relieve Job's pain. Friends feel the need to fix things. When questions need to be answered, we want to provide the answers. When there is pain, we want to soothe it. They went there hoping to help but ultimately couldn't. They were frustrated and angry and their response to their own failure multiplied Job's pain.
The second thing that was going on here was that Job's friends were trying to fill a role that was not theirs to fill. In their desire to make things better, they took on God's job, attempting to answer questions that they mistakenly thought needed to be answered. But they misread the need. Job's cries and questions may have been expressed to them, but they were directed to God. So they applied the Band-Aid of bumper sticker theology, thinking that saying the right thing would make it all better. But it didn't because it can't. Knowing what caused a storm doesn't diminsh its damage.
In Job 16, he finally tells his friends that he has had enough of thier heartless babble. They had neither provided comfort nor answered his questions. They missed it altogether!
He didn't need them to play God and provide answers. They didn't have to be theologians and psychologists. He just needed them to be there and provide support. He needed them to listen without responding, to help him secure the daily bread that would sustain him in his time of grief.
And that is exactly what our friends need. When we have friends going through the storms of life we must commit to be there. Then we go, not trying to take the pain away committed to doing our part to relieve the pressure that accompanies the pain. And when we don't know what to say, we choose not to say anything at all. Our presence in a storm answers the one question that must be answered: Does anyone care?
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Presumption of Ease
For those of you who don't really know me, I am not one of those people who is "just waiting for the other shoe to drop."
You know that person right? As soon as something good happens they begin making plans for some negative force to come and steal their candy. I had a pastor friend tell me about a very generous love offering his church gave him on his first anniversary. When I congratulated him, he told me he was "just waiting for the other shoe to drop," and even suggested that his transmission would soon go out in his van. How sad is that? In my opinion, dodging falling shoes is no way to live -- and I don't.
But I'm not one of those "name-it-and-claim-it" people either. I assume you know that group. They believe that if you claim something in JeEEesus name, then it's yours. You merely have to have and maintain the right kind of faith-speak. By faith, you speak your preferred future and you hang on, faithfully speaking it into existence until it comes to pass.
For example, "I'm believing for a new F-150, extended cab with glass packs and a lift kit." I don't even know if such a vehicle exists, but if you want it bad enough and you unleash your faith on it, you can go ahead and make space in your front yard to park it -- it's yours! I could go on and on with the absurdity of this philosophy, but suffice it to say that if your faith system depends on capitalism and a free market economy, then it is at best flawed. The faith that I find presented in the Bible is good whether you live in China or Clearwater.
So what lens am I looking through? My philosophy, for the most part, can be described as a presumption of ease. What does that mean? In my day-to-day affairs I believe that things will come off without a hitch, just as planned. Simply put, I expect things to go my way.
I realized this was one of my core presumptions this past week when life took an unexpected turn. Nikki and I were looking forward to spending a couple of days with two of our closest friends from Oklahoma, the Odoms. They were arriving in Tampa on Tuesday afternoon and then leaving again early Thursday morning. So we planned for a great couple of days. The boys were fired up! It was going to be the best .... What could go wrong? Well, let me tell you ....
Early Tuesday morning at about 3 a.m. I heard the unmistakable sound of sickness, not once but twice! Within 2 minutes of each other, both Landry and Wil had gotten sick. I'm not sure that I will ever forget the questions Nikki asked the moment we realized what was happening, just before we sprung into action: "Can you believe this? What are we going to do with the Odoms?"
The truth is I couldn't believe it. I had not even considered this a possibility. Remember, I live with a presumption of ease. Things like this aren't supposed to happen to me and my family.
Where do I get that idea? Is it a sense of entitlement? I hope not. But in reality, the presumption of anything before God, be it falling shoes, F-150’s, or a life of ease is erroneous. Presuming upon God is elevating our expectations to the place of sovereignty. Our presumption limits God. Then when He blows through our presumptive boundaries, our foundations are shaken and in some cases they crumble.
Job’s three friends lived with a presumption of God. They presumed a quid pro quo reality whereby people get back what they are giving out. If you were good, you received good things. If you were bad, then you would receive bad things.
Bildad epitomizes this philosophy when he says, “Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin. But if you will look to God and plead with the Almighty, if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your rightful place .... Surely God does not reject a blameless man or strengthen the hands of evildoers." (Job 8:3-6, 20)
While there is a law of sowing and reaping, you have to allow space in time for good things to happen to bad people, and bad things to good people. God’s primary concern for us is not what happens to us, but what happens in us. He uses the good and the bad to mold us into the men and women he wants us to be. God can and will use everything to teach us, including the unexpected.
So what did I learn when my week didn’t go as I presumed it would? As my preaching professor used to say, “Don’t never assume nothin'!” Instead, “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
You know that person right? As soon as something good happens they begin making plans for some negative force to come and steal their candy. I had a pastor friend tell me about a very generous love offering his church gave him on his first anniversary. When I congratulated him, he told me he was "just waiting for the other shoe to drop," and even suggested that his transmission would soon go out in his van. How sad is that? In my opinion, dodging falling shoes is no way to live -- and I don't.
But I'm not one of those "name-it-and-claim-it" people either. I assume you know that group. They believe that if you claim something in JeEEesus name, then it's yours. You merely have to have and maintain the right kind of faith-speak. By faith, you speak your preferred future and you hang on, faithfully speaking it into existence until it comes to pass.
For example, "I'm believing for a new F-150, extended cab with glass packs and a lift kit." I don't even know if such a vehicle exists, but if you want it bad enough and you unleash your faith on it, you can go ahead and make space in your front yard to park it -- it's yours! I could go on and on with the absurdity of this philosophy, but suffice it to say that if your faith system depends on capitalism and a free market economy, then it is at best flawed. The faith that I find presented in the Bible is good whether you live in China or Clearwater.
So what lens am I looking through? My philosophy, for the most part, can be described as a presumption of ease. What does that mean? In my day-to-day affairs I believe that things will come off without a hitch, just as planned. Simply put, I expect things to go my way.
I realized this was one of my core presumptions this past week when life took an unexpected turn. Nikki and I were looking forward to spending a couple of days with two of our closest friends from Oklahoma, the Odoms. They were arriving in Tampa on Tuesday afternoon and then leaving again early Thursday morning. So we planned for a great couple of days. The boys were fired up! It was going to be the best .... What could go wrong? Well, let me tell you ....
Early Tuesday morning at about 3 a.m. I heard the unmistakable sound of sickness, not once but twice! Within 2 minutes of each other, both Landry and Wil had gotten sick. I'm not sure that I will ever forget the questions Nikki asked the moment we realized what was happening, just before we sprung into action: "Can you believe this? What are we going to do with the Odoms?"
The truth is I couldn't believe it. I had not even considered this a possibility. Remember, I live with a presumption of ease. Things like this aren't supposed to happen to me and my family.
Where do I get that idea? Is it a sense of entitlement? I hope not. But in reality, the presumption of anything before God, be it falling shoes, F-150’s, or a life of ease is erroneous. Presuming upon God is elevating our expectations to the place of sovereignty. Our presumption limits God. Then when He blows through our presumptive boundaries, our foundations are shaken and in some cases they crumble.
Job’s three friends lived with a presumption of God. They presumed a quid pro quo reality whereby people get back what they are giving out. If you were good, you received good things. If you were bad, then you would receive bad things.
Bildad epitomizes this philosophy when he says, “Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin. But if you will look to God and plead with the Almighty, if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your rightful place .... Surely God does not reject a blameless man or strengthen the hands of evildoers." (Job 8:3-6, 20)
While there is a law of sowing and reaping, you have to allow space in time for good things to happen to bad people, and bad things to good people. God’s primary concern for us is not what happens to us, but what happens in us. He uses the good and the bad to mold us into the men and women he wants us to be. God can and will use everything to teach us, including the unexpected.
So what did I learn when my week didn’t go as I presumed it would? As my preaching professor used to say, “Don’t never assume nothin'!” Instead, “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Uncovered
One of the things that I have been taught, whether intentionally or unintentionally, is that there is a formula or a combination that unlocks the door to life preferred. When there is a dream that I want to see come true, this teaching says all I have to do is figure out the formula, develop a plan of implementation, work the plan and the plan will work. This concept seems to be rooted in the idea that God is faithful to the faithful. But when I stop to consider his servant Job, the whole notion collapses like a house of cards.
I'm sure you know the story: Job was a really good guy. God called him "blameless and upright." He was a man who understood how to apply the fear of God in his everyday life. This was no more evident than in the way that he served his family as priest. Chapter 1 tells us Job's seven sons took turns holding huge parties. All the kids got together for extended periods of eating and drinking. When the parties were over Job would say to himself, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." So early in the morning, Job would sacrifice a burnt offering for each one of them, purifying them before the Lord. The scripture says, "This was Job's regular custom."
If there was a formula for protecting children, Job was working it faithfully. He did everything he could to ensure that they were in God's protective hands. It's safe to say that Job did his part to see that his kids were covered.
Then one day God uncovered them. He lifted the hedge of protection off of Job's wealth and his family. The chilling report came to Job from a servant who was on the scene: "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" Job 1:18-19
How did this happen? There is no indication in scripture that Job skipped a day of sacrifice. As a matter of fact, the writer takes great pains to say Job feared God so much that he wouldn't miss an opportunity to serve as priest for his family. Job had done everything he could to cover his children, but they were uncovered.
In our context today, we would have to draw one of two conclusions: Either God failed or the formula failed. IT WASN'T GOD! Job's formula failed. He worked his plan faithfully and the plan didn't work. Why?
It's not about us! God's blessing is dependent upon God's grace, not our performance. If we only experienced the blessing of God when we were getting things right then it would be a payment earned, not a blessing received. Payments are tied to performance.
Am I doing enough to be blessed? Am I praying enough? Am I giving enough? Have I read my Bible enough? Those questions put all the focus on us, and take it off of God who wants our undivided attention. God wants us to focus more on Him than our performance.
Paul confronted the Galatians about this very thing saying, "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" You began in grace, proceed in grace!
I think we know this is true: God blesses according to His grace and plan--not our performance. The hard part is to acknowledge the caveat to be true as well. I have a hard time writing this, but we have to say that in His wisdom, goodness, mercy and justice God also witholds blessings. As Job put it, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away." There is no way around it. For reasons that we still don't understand, Job's kids were uncovered.
The good news and the bad news is this: God can bless us and use us at our best and our worst--a truth that is both liberating and terrifying.
So how do we respond? In all of our decisions, we follow His lead as spelled out in scripture. Our obedience will place us in a BLESSABLE POSITION. Having done our part, we then trust God with the rest.
I'm sure you know the story: Job was a really good guy. God called him "blameless and upright." He was a man who understood how to apply the fear of God in his everyday life. This was no more evident than in the way that he served his family as priest. Chapter 1 tells us Job's seven sons took turns holding huge parties. All the kids got together for extended periods of eating and drinking. When the parties were over Job would say to himself, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." So early in the morning, Job would sacrifice a burnt offering for each one of them, purifying them before the Lord. The scripture says, "This was Job's regular custom."
If there was a formula for protecting children, Job was working it faithfully. He did everything he could to ensure that they were in God's protective hands. It's safe to say that Job did his part to see that his kids were covered.
Then one day God uncovered them. He lifted the hedge of protection off of Job's wealth and his family. The chilling report came to Job from a servant who was on the scene: "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" Job 1:18-19
How did this happen? There is no indication in scripture that Job skipped a day of sacrifice. As a matter of fact, the writer takes great pains to say Job feared God so much that he wouldn't miss an opportunity to serve as priest for his family. Job had done everything he could to cover his children, but they were uncovered.
In our context today, we would have to draw one of two conclusions: Either God failed or the formula failed. IT WASN'T GOD! Job's formula failed. He worked his plan faithfully and the plan didn't work. Why?
It's not about us! God's blessing is dependent upon God's grace, not our performance. If we only experienced the blessing of God when we were getting things right then it would be a payment earned, not a blessing received. Payments are tied to performance.
Am I doing enough to be blessed? Am I praying enough? Am I giving enough? Have I read my Bible enough? Those questions put all the focus on us, and take it off of God who wants our undivided attention. God wants us to focus more on Him than our performance.
Paul confronted the Galatians about this very thing saying, "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" You began in grace, proceed in grace!
I think we know this is true: God blesses according to His grace and plan--not our performance. The hard part is to acknowledge the caveat to be true as well. I have a hard time writing this, but we have to say that in His wisdom, goodness, mercy and justice God also witholds blessings. As Job put it, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away." There is no way around it. For reasons that we still don't understand, Job's kids were uncovered.
The good news and the bad news is this: God can bless us and use us at our best and our worst--a truth that is both liberating and terrifying.
So how do we respond? In all of our decisions, we follow His lead as spelled out in scripture. Our obedience will place us in a BLESSABLE POSITION. Having done our part, we then trust God with the rest.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Jackpot Jesus
Job is perhaps one of the most fascinating and challenging books in the Bible. To me, the difficulty lies in the fact that God does not offer easily accessed commentary on the philosophies presented by Job's so-called friends. Until the end of the book, we really don't know where God stands on their insensitive humanistic observations and even then we are left wanting, hoping that he would pick them apart one pitifully obtuse point at a time.
However, one thing we do understand from the very beginning is what God and Satan both think about Job. God thinks that Job is special. Indeed he says there is no one like him on the face of the earth, calling him a servant who is "blameless and upright"--pretty high praise from His Holiness.
Satan, on the other hand, is not drinking the Kool-Aid on Job. His belief is that anyone who hit the jackpot with God would be loyal. So he challenged God: "Does Job fear God for nothing?" In other words, anybody would do what Job was doing if they were getting paid. Everyone has their price and, by meeting his price, God ensured that Job would be on his best behavior. Satan hypothesized that if God stopped paying him, Job would go the way of the rest of creation, becoming a self-absorbed malcontent.
What about you?
Do you worship Jackpot Jesus? If things in your world went sour, would you sour on God?
However, one thing we do understand from the very beginning is what God and Satan both think about Job. God thinks that Job is special. Indeed he says there is no one like him on the face of the earth, calling him a servant who is "blameless and upright"--pretty high praise from His Holiness.
Satan, on the other hand, is not drinking the Kool-Aid on Job. His belief is that anyone who hit the jackpot with God would be loyal. So he challenged God: "Does Job fear God for nothing?" In other words, anybody would do what Job was doing if they were getting paid. Everyone has their price and, by meeting his price, God ensured that Job would be on his best behavior. Satan hypothesized that if God stopped paying him, Job would go the way of the rest of creation, becoming a self-absorbed malcontent.
What about you?
Do you worship Jackpot Jesus? If things in your world went sour, would you sour on God?
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