Job 31 - TWEAKING, SOCIAL NETWORKING, AND UPDATING

Part 1 – TWEAKING

All I knew was how to shut the programme down that I was using and load the whole thing again. My computer wasn’t doing what it should do. The screen was FREEZING at the most inopportune times, or it was CRASHING. It needed TWEAKING; fine-tuning or adjusting it’s system, and that was beyond me. Small but essential modifications needed to be made but they would make all the difference.

Job knows what it is like to live as God intends. The Hardware (his body) leaves a whole lot to be desired but he hasn’t finished the race just yet. The Software however (his character), is in incredible shape. He tells me how God the Holy Spirit scans and tweaks my life.

1. ENHANCING THE SCREEN RESOLUTION (Job 31:1-4, 9-12).

This has to do with WHAT WE LOOK AT. Job says in Job 31:1 (NASB) "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?" The NLT says “... not to look with lust at a young woman." In Matthew 5:27-28 (NLT) Jesus echoes what Job is saying “... anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Job makes strong choices that honour God and his marriage partner. This is tweaking the faithfulness application.

This is obviously talking about more than just LOOKING at young women. I was amazed that almost half Australians think that pornography is a normal and healthy part of life according to a Morgan Poll. John Wylie says “More than 70% of men (and women) from 18 to 34 visit a pornographic site in a typical month - and the stats aren't much better for those in the church...” It's about how I THINK about a woman. Do I see them as sexual objects or do I recognise that even the most physically attractive woman in my eyes is someones daughter, created in the image of God, loved by God and someone who deserves my respect?

If she were my own daughter, how would I want other men to look at her? Is my conscience defiled and is God dishonoured by the way I look at a woman?

Job has not been seduced nor has he seduced anyone else. He says “For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. It is a fire that burns all the way to hell” (Job 31:11). Such sin carries it’s own punishment by the shame it produces. Proverbs 6:32-33 (NLT) "the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself. He will be wounded and disgraced. His shame will never be erased.” I am willing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit as he tweaks the faithfulness app. in my life? Are you?

2. OPTIMISE THE CONNECTION SPEED (Job 31:26-28)

It’s not only tweaking my marriage connection that is important, making those small incremental adjustments each day, but also my connection speed with God. There’s plenty of things that slow down my ability to connect with God. What is it in my heart that I am enticed to “throw kisses” at in WORSHIP? Whatever it is, it denies God access to the areas of my life over which He wants and deserves total tweaking authority. Deuteronomy 11:16 (NLT) says "But be careful. Don’t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the Lord and serve and worship other gods." Job has made strong choices to give God the preeminent place in his life. Does my worship need tweaking?

3. REMOVE UNNECESSARY APPLICATIONS (Job 31:33)