GETTING THROUGH THE STRUGGLE
Job 1:20-22
* These past couple of weeks have been weeks of fiscal struggle in our nation and arguably in the world. It would seem that every fiscal pillar of this world has now been threatened. Like it or not savings, investments, retirements, real estate, and much more has now taken a bit hit in our economy and our lives. It is no stretch of the facts to say that our society is struggling. And if the society is struggling so are we.
* Struggles come from many different sources. To name just a few, they can be seen in financial, family, job-related, and social. It matters not who you are struggles will come your way. The Bible tells us that struggle is a part of life. The fact that we have struggle does not make us good or bad, it makes us human. The character question is; “How do we handle the struggle?” Handling struggles tell us much about who we are. And if we are to handle struggles well and in a way that honors our Lord, we need to have an example to follow. We find such a model in Job.
* You do remember the story of Job. The story begins with God bragging to Satan about Job. Think about what it would mean to have God brag on you. So God allowed Satan to make Job struggle. Talk about a bad day? What began, quite likely, as a beautiful day turned sour fairly quickly. Without a break, he received four cell phone calls to say, “Your ox and donkeys have been stolen, a lightening storm burned up your sheep and servants, your camels have been taken,” and the icing on the cake was “your kids have been killed by a storm.” Even the person in this room who has experienced the most heartache and struggle cannot touch the depth of Job’s despair.
* But don’t miss this; ‘the big issue is not the struggle that he felt and faced, but rather “how he handled this struggle. Let’s consider two revelations about His response.
I) ATTITUDES UNDERSTOOD – His attitudes can be understood in verse 20.
A) Of the Mind – Hearing all this news was more than Job could stand. No wanting to believe all this bad news was coming on the same day and in rapid fire succession, He probably sat down to let it sink in. When he absorbs all the news, his mind is filled with all the “can’t believe it” information, the first he does is to stand up. His mind is so full of pain that he can’t stand it anymore. Can you see his response?
B) Of the Body – He then tears off his robe and shaves His head. Both of the actions indicate deep grief. He was heartbroken, devastated, and even crushed. Can you picture the actions? His actions indicate a man who feels like his world has come to an end. What does he do? Does he do like we do on occasion? We see his progression.
C) Of the Heart – “He fell to the ground and worshipped?” May I just offer this thought; we seem to hold people in the Bible to a higher standard than we hold our self. We think it is very natural for Job to worship in times of heartache, so we are not surprised. May I ask you this question: What do you do when struggle, turmoil, and heartbreak comes your way? Job fell down. Most of us will fall, but will be fall toward our Heavenly Father or our Earthly passions?
* Most of you know where I live. When we bought the house there was a big, old, and dying tree in the front yard. It was getting into our sewage line and needed to come down. One Saturday morning, the big four showed up at my house. (Jack, Rodney, Larry, and Gary) The came to take down the tree. Guess what? It mattered which way the tree fell.
* When you have a difficulty in your life, it matters which way you fall. Do you draw closer to God or do you take matters in your own hands?
* TRANS: Now, let’s move to what actions Job took.
II) ACTIONS UNVEILED -
A) He looked back – He began by remembering his birth. It is fair to say that the word “naked” is both literal and symbolic. Literally, no baby is born wearing clothes. However, for the symbolism, think of the ways in which the Bible uses the word, “naked”. In Genesis we are told that Adam and Eve were in the garden and were naked. This spoken of their innocence as well as their intimacy which they had before sin entered the world. In Matthew Jesus uses this same word to express need, “When I was naked, you clothed me.” In 1 Samuel 9, it demonstrates openness and transparency. In Ezekiel it is used to express shame.
* Job said, “When I came into this world I had nothing, I had nothing to do with getting here.” He is expressing his utter dependence on someone or something else. He is saying “I know that I’m not God, I came from someone else.”
B) He Looked ahead – After looking back at his birth, he looks forward to the time of his death and basically says, “This life is so fragile and temporary that I will leave with exactly the same thing I can here with.” May I submit that this type of perspective would assist each of us, even in the good time? Our tendency is to hang on so tightly to the things and people of this world that we never connect rightly with God and come to terms with our eternity. I will go to my grave remembering the words Michael Pickens gave to me when we first arrived in Hueytown. He told us about losing his first wife to cancer. Then he and Tammy were telling us how he handles crisis in the family by saying, “Well, at least nobody died.” What a perspective. Here is what we need to come to grips with; “Even if someone does die, God is still in control.” When you think you cannot go on, get a perspective of life by looking back and looking ahead, but don’t stop there. Continue like Job.
C) He Looked around – Now, I want to admit to you the some of this message was gleaned from one of my favorite teachers, Warren Wiersbe. But this principle is not one which I read anywhere else, but think about what Job was saying. I think he looked around at all he had begun with, all that he had amazed, and all that he had lost and recognized that none of it was his, it was only loaned to him by God. What a lesson! You have money? You have family? You have possessions? Whatever you have is on loan to you from your heavenly Father. You and I are only stewards of God’s possessions. In fact, I’ll suggest that the reason some of us don’t get any more than we do could be because God’s knows we can’t be trusted. If He blesses us too much, we make a mess of it because we are not spiritually mature enough to handle it.
One pastor watched a young man get started in his career. The young lad began with his company making $50 per week. Every week this youngster would give $5. Over the course of many years, he received several promotions and raises with his increased responsibility. One day, this man (now in management) went to his preacher and asked for prayer. Now, he wanted to preacher to pray for him to be able to start tithing once again. Now, he was making $5000 per week and couldn’t afford to tithe. The pastor prayed, “Lord reduce him to $50.”
* The man raised his head and said, “What are you doing?” His pastor replied, “You didn’t have any problems when you made only $50.” The point was made. I’ll submit, in the midst of difficulty, look back, look ahead, and look around, but don’t stop there. Take the last step.
D) He Looked up – Even in the midst of his struggle, He sang a “Doxology” and praised the name of the Lord. In the words of Lanny Wolfe, “In the good times, praise His name, In the bad times do the same.” Know what? There is help when we look up. God is there simply waiting for us to ask. In Jesus we can approach the throne and there we will find answers.
* Today our country is in economic upheaval. My belief is that this is a result of our turning away from Jehovah God. Had we still believed that leaders should be godly, the corruption and unbridled greed which has almost wrecked our economic foundation would have not had an opportunity to act. That is the national scene. The national scene is always good to talk about because we see ourselves almost divorced from that situation.
* So let’s make it personal. When we lose our pension, our house, our mate, our children, or our money, how do we respond? Will we fall down in worship? Will we take in the circumstances, keeping our faith in God in place? Verse 22 is an eye opening verse. Job didn’t sin and he didn’t blame God. He got through the struggle by keeping his faith in tact. Will we.
