Introductory Considerations
1. He was one of the most powerful yet generous people I have ever known. He ran a very successful company and freely gave out hundreds of thousands of dollars. He had a large family and there always seemed to be business associates and friends at his home.
2. People sought his advise and he was always invited to be part of the action. His life was full and he sought to be and appeared to be a man of God. He seemed to have it all. And yet, as he told me when we were alone one day - he felt very lonely. Sure there were many people around him and many who seemed to be his friends.
3. But somehow, perhaps through some bad experiences, he felt they did not really care about him. What they really cared about was his money. They cared more about what he could do to help them than they cared about him. And to be honest, there were those around him for just that very reason.
4. He wondered how many friends he would have if he had no more to give.
5. The sad part was that he never found out. Partly because he died and partly because he kept giving for fear that if he did not, his friends would no longer be there and he would be alone
6. There was much truth in what he felt.
7. Isn’t that the way people are. People loses their health or their ability to help others, and how many people still come to visit them. It was fun to do things together but now all a visitor can do is listen to confusion. eg. Person with alzheimers - not fun or easy to visit.
8. A sports star is at the peak of his career and reporters and fans cannot get enough of him. Later, when his age has taken its toll on his game- he is a has-been and he sits unnoticed in a corner of the dressing room.
9. This is fact of life - people associate with those who can give them something - even if it is just friendship.
10. It is this that is dealt with in the book of Job. The question of why Job is righteous, why he fears and worships God
11. And it is that question I put before you this evening - why do you worship God and follow Him. Why have you put your trust in Christ?
Teaching
1. In a way Job reminds me of my friend. Job was wealthy and had a large family. Both feared God and sought to live for God in a righteous manner.
2. Job was the kind of person that brought glory to God. One who brought praise and honour to Him.
3. Satan has been roaming the earth. Although we are not told, I wonder if Satan might have had an evil smile when he said this: "I’ve been roaming the earth and you know God, those people you have created are not really worshiping you with their lives." "They are so busy sinning and doing what they want, that they have little thought for you" "Instead they are worshiping themselves, their possessions, and soon they will worship me."
4. But, as God points out, there is one who is faithful. (Job 1:8)
5. But Satan, who hates to see God get glory, challenges God. He suggests that the only reason why Job fears God is because God has blessed Him so richly. Take away the blessings, and Job would curse God.
6. In other words, the only reason why Job worships God is because of what he gets out of it
7. At this point, we might have thought that God could have said "I don’t need to prove my sincerity to you or anyone else. I know Job and you are way out in what you think." It would have been a lot easier for Job if that is how God would have handled the challenge.
8. But instead he suggests a test to prove that Job’s faith. Why does God do this? Answer found in John 9:1-3. The purpose of our lives, the purpose of even our suffering is ultimately for one thing - to bring glory to God.
9. It is one thing to tell Satan that he is wrong, it would be quite another to let all of heaven witness visibly God’s victory over Satan in this matter.
10. As we know story, Job passes the test - Job 1:21-22. He acknowledges that God is giver and taker of all things, he praise God and continues to be righteous.
11. But Satan does not give up this easily. And he suggest an even tougher test. It is one thing to lose you possessions, but quite another to have your very body inflicted (Job 2:4-5)
12. And so, with God’s permission, Satan inflicts Jobs body with sores from head to toe. The suffering is great.
13. Jobs wife suggest he curse God and die. Yet we read in Job 2:10. Job would have his struggles, but he continued to fear God.
14. I believe a big problem with the church today is that we do not have enough Jobs. By that I do not mean that we need more people to suffer like Job, although that might be true.
15. We need more people who worship God for whom He is.
16. A wrong message is preached in the church today. "Come to God and He will take away your loneliness, your sins, your struggles. Our view of God is that He is there to meet our needs. That He was created for us rather than us for Him.
a. There are those who preach " name it and claim it". In loud voices we claim God’s blessings as a right that we deserve to have bestowed upon us rather than humbly seek God’s help we demand it.
17. It was when Job humbled himself that God blessed him again, not when he demanded relief.
18. We are to come humbly before God seeking His help. Some say this is a lack of faith. To me it is the test of real faith. "Your will be done Lord"
19. Story told by pastor of woman in his church. Click here to see outline where found.
20. Easy when things go wrong to feel God is wrong in how He treats us. Small things often upset me, eg. computers. We can get demanding or say God - its in your hands.
21. I believe Satan has made great strides in the church today to make us a demanding people. We want to control God and tell Him what to do. We measure His love for us by how much He answers our prayers.
22. Tonight I ask you to examine your walk with the Lord. What do you expect from God? Why do you worship Him?
23. We can even have wrong motive for daily devotions. If we start day with God and things will go well. Perhaps, but what if they don’t?
24. We are to live and worship and do all simply to give glory to God. Not for what He has done, is doing, or can do for us, but simply because of who He is.
25. When Jesus walked on earth there were many who followed Him. Many of them for the wrong reasons. Jesus challenged them and He challenges us.
26. In SS last week talked about those invited by God to come to Him, to come to banquet of life.
27. Why are you following Christ? To glorify God or to get for self? What is most important to you? How respond when things don’t go your way?
28. Lets examine self and ask God to reveal our motives and to enable us to fear and worship Him not for our sake but for His sake.
