Defeating Fortune And Misfortune

Introduction:

1. Oscar Wilder once wrote, "In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants and the other is getting it."

2. Job knew the tragedies of getting all that he wanted and the loss of all that was precious.

3. The story of Job helps us in defeating fortune and misfortune and to focus on God.

Job’s Life (verses 1-5)

A. Job was blameless (verse 1) which implies complete integrity. In a world saturated with cooperate fraud, Job was the kind of man you knew would be up front.

B. Job was upright (verse 1) which implies complete fairness and pure honesty. Today who can you trust? Even our children steal from their parents. Job was a man who was trustworthy.

C. Job feared God (verse 1)which indicates his reverence for God. This was not a frightful fear as one would be of a tyrant, but his repect for God and who He was.

D. Job shunned evil (verse 1) meaning he was not attracted to wickedness. You wouldn’t find Job in a place that presented any form of temptation.

E. Job cared for his children (verse 5) which says a lot about a man. What kind of world would this be if more fathers would bring the sacrifice of prayer before God on behalf of his children?

F. Job was a rich man (verses 2-3)a very rich man. He prospered in the wool industry (7000 sheep) and deliverd the goods with a great transpotation operation (3000 camels). He was big in agriculture with 500 oxen and 500 donkeys to plow the ground.

Now the question: Is Job’s religion tied only to what he can get from God? Satan seemed to think so.

Job’s Loss (verses 6-19)

A. This prominent, prosperous, prayer parent is now in the pits of poverty and pain.

B. One event after the other leaves Job with only four servants, a nagging wife and so called friends.

C. He is beaten but not defeated. He has nothing but possesses everything.

The answer: Job had a real relationship with God that had nothing to do with his circumstances, possessions or position in life.

Job’s Lord (verses 20-22)

A. The Lord is worthy of worship. (verse 20) It is evident that Job’s relationship was tied not to what but Who.

B. The Lord is owner of everything. (verse 21) This was the lesson to be learn by the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22). When we realize that He is Lord of all then He can become Lord of all that we possess.

C. The Lord is to be praised. (verse 21) When the Lord is truly Lord we can see more clearly through our tragedies.

Blessed be the name of the Lord in sickness and in health.

Blessed be the name of the Lord in tragedy and triumph.

Blessed be the name of the Lord in sorrow and joy.

Blessed be the name of the Lord in death and life.

Blessed be the name of the Lord even in fortune and misfortune.