In one day Job lost everything. He lost all his material goods first.
Job 1:
14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,
15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
Then he lost all of his children.
Job 1:2,18,19
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house,
19 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!"
Then he lost his health.
Job 2
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
He even lost the support of his wife.
Job 2
9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"
Finally, he lost the support of his friends. The bulk of the book of Job is a series of messages that they brought to Job in an attempt to give comfort and to offer encouragement. Instead they accused him of doing something wrong and told him to repent.
The Truth is that in this Life bad things happen to good people.
A man came into my office this past week and asked me one question. "Why???"
He was confused and upset. It really bothered him.
He is an unbeliever. He knows there is a God but he does not follow him or his son Jesus. Yet he wants to know “Why?”.
He cried with the man when he told him about his wife. She was 39 and died of cancer. They were devoted to God – had given for many years. – why had she died so young.
I had no answer for him. I do not know why young people die of cancer. I don’t know why a drunk driver in a pickup can cross the median and run into a bus load of church kids coming home from an amusement park setting it afire and killing 39 teenagers.
I don’t know why thousands of men, women, and children can be run out of their homes in a strange place called Kosvo.
I don’t know why my sister had to die in a car accident at age 23.
I don’t know why people suffer and I don’t know why you have to suffer.
I do know this. People do not suffer because of of some sin - secret or otherwise in their lives.
People do not suffer because they sin. Jesus healed the man who was blind from birth and made that very clear. The pharisees had brought a blind man to Jesus and asked the question, "Who sinned, this man or his parents?
Now, this was a trick question. The pharisees were trying to discredit him with the people. They thought no matter what he said that he would be wrong.
Look at the question and the response in John 9.
His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
So the work of God might be displayed in his life... Interesting. Before we explore this remember another time Jesus taught about suffering he said that suffering is simply a part of life.
In Luke 13
1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
2 Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?
3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them-- do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?
Job claims to have been faithful to God in his whole life. And the scripture does not refute his claim
In fact – we know that God allowed the suffering – caused by Satan to test and to prove Job’s devotion and love of God. We also see that suffering in this life gives us opportunity to let others see the power of God’s love and care for us.
So what do you say to a suffering person?
Here are 10 Bloopers people make at the Hospital:
1. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help!
(Then please wait around for the answer.)
2. Why didn’t you call and tell me what you needed?
(Because I couldn’t get my head off the pillow)
3. This must be God’s will for your life.
(Did He tell you that?)
4. I know what you must be going through.
(You’ve lost your hair, too?)
5. Remember, time heals all wounds.
(I hope that isn’t why time has no end.)
6. So, what are your chances?
(Better than yours for "Encourager of the Year.")
7. Things could be worse.
(Please don’t elaborate!)
8. Look on the bright side.
(I would if I knew what it was.)
9. You have the same thing as my aunt, but she died.
(Thank you so much for sharing that.)
10. It’s so wonderful that you will see Jesus before the rest of us!
(Don’t be so sure.)
So what do you say to someone who is suffering and broken. It is not that you have answers to the questions…It is that cared enough to come.
A young preacher heard about a sudden and tragic death of a teenager in a car accident. He rushed to the home of the parents only to find them standing in the front yard next to their car. They had just arrived home from the hospital.
He didn’t know what to say so he said nothing. They hugged and cried together. After an hour he left… never uttering a word.
He felt he had failed until several weeks later he received a card from the couple thanking him for the comfort he gave them that day. They thanked him for not saying anything but for just being there and sharing their grief.
It is not so much what you say to offer comfort…It is the fact that you care.
My sister’s funeral… hundreds of people from all over the state of Michigan – the support was overwhelming.
It is not so much what you offer to do… It is what you actually take the time to do.
Don’t wait for them to tell you what to do… just do it!
There was a lady at one church I heard of when there was grieving and a crisis she would simply bring over a grocery bag of paper products. Everything from TP to kleenex.
Here is a reading by someone who suffered with Cancer.
When I was diagnosed with Cancer:
My first friend came and expressed his shock by saying, "I can’t believe that you have cancer. I always thought you were so active and healthy."
He left and I felt alienated and somehow very "different."
My second friend came and brought me information about different treatments being used for cancer. She said "Whatever you do, don’t take chemotherapy. It’s a poison!"
So she left and I felt scared and confused.
My third friend came and tried to answer my "whys?" with the statement "Perhaps God is disciplining you for some sin in your life?"
He left and I felt guilty.
My fourth friend came and told me, "If your faith is just great enough God will heal you."
She left and I felt my faith must be inadequate.
My fifth friend came and told me to remember that "All things work together for good."
He left and I felt angry.
My sixth friend never came at all.
I felt sad and alone.
My seventh friend came and held my hand and said, "I care, I’m here, I want to help you through this."
She left and I felt loved!
-Linda Mae Richardson
So what do you do when you are the one who is suffering?
Look to Job and follow his example.
First: Job worshiped God.
I am impressed that in the midst of the immediate grief he worships God.
Job 1
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship
21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Second: Job questioned God.
Job3:
11 "Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?
He goes on rather eloquently and asks over and over – what’s the point?
16 Or why was I not hidden in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?
17 There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.
18 Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the slave driver’s shout.
19 The small and the great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.
Job didn’t understand why he had to suffer so he questioned God. This is natural when we suffer. But eventually we need to do what Job ultimately did.
Finally, Job trusted God.
God’s answer comes in the end of the book
In Job 38-40 we have a who litany of the power of God on display. Then in the 40th chapter we read these word of repentance and humble trust.
1 Then Job replied to the LORD:
2 "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, ’Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
4 "You said, ’Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’
5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.
In the end – God blessed Job. He regained his wealth. In fact, he received twice as much as he lost. He regained his children and had 10 more! In other words he doubled his children because the other ten are with God!
Listen, God will take care of you.
1) Brokenness is a part of life
2) It proves us and prepares us
The key is to remember that we are never alone. Trust God. Remember the words of encouragement that Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 10:13.
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Three promises.
First: All problems are common to man.
Second: You can bear it.
And, finally: there is an end.
God will show his glory through you – if you let him
Remember what Jesus said about the blind man and let him reveal his glory in your life.
