Date:
Monday,
June 01, 2015
Chapters: Job 20-23
Message Title: Why Do The Wicked Prosper
Hello My Friend,
Faithful Christians love living their lives with Christ in it, no matter what they are facing, they still do their best to walk with Jesus and live their lives by His example. So, what happens when we keep doing everything right, but seem to always suffer while others, even unfaithful Christians, seem to get away with everything. There comes a time that every faithful Christian wonders why it seems as though those living in sin prosper when they have to work so hard to get a fraction of what they have. When it seems God will never give us a break from all the suffering, that is when we need to remember God's promise. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” - Psalms 1:1-3.
Job was living a very prosperous life, in fact, he was one of the most richest men alive during his time. People respected him, and they knew his life was great because he gave God the glory for all his success. Even God acknowledged that he was an upright man, yet here he is, laying there in pain with three friends constantly, going on and on about how wicked he is. Perhaps the most critical of the three was Zophar, he didn't hold anything back, convinced that Job was being judged because he refused to admit that he was a sinner. “Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he? He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.” - Job 20:4-9,29.
Now, Zophar is correct in saying that the wicked only prosper for a time, in the end they will suffer more than we ever did, he was wrong in his accusations of Job. We cannot judge a person based on the circumstances they are facing, and no one has a right to judge us. We can condemn a person for having gotten away from going to church or praying in public, but we do not know their circumstances nor do we see what's going on as to why it appears they are not right with God. Perhaps what they need is a little guidance and encouragement from us, they are struggling and need to know that everything is going to be okay, and that God loves them and is still with them. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” - Romans 15:1-4.
Now, Job wonders why the wicked do prosper, when they want nothing to do with God. “Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.” - Job 21:7-9,17-22.
While we cannot always understand why God allows those who care less about Him to have so much while those who are faithful to Him struggle from day to day, we can understand that our faithfulness is not return void. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:7,13,16.
Eliphaz, perhaps the most knowledgeable of God between the three, has hope that things will get better for Job, if he just acknowledge his sin to God and seek forgiveness. “Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment? Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.” - Job 22:2-7,12-14.
Eliphaz was way off in his judgment here, he was being sarcastic as if Job was saying that God does not see and know everything that he has done. God sees and knows everything that is going on with us, even the things we think, but He does not base our prosperity on our works, but in who we are trusting while doing those works. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23.
Job responds to this crazy accusation, “Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.” - Job 23:6-11.
Gold is quite rough looking when it is found in the ground, in order to get that shiny hue it needs to be heated up. Since we are more precious than gold, we can be sure that God is going to put the heat on us a little more than the gold to make us shine. Yeah, we may have to suffer a little more, and to be honest, they suffer too, they just do not admit it. The key to prospering from the suffering is Jesus Christ, even if we lose everything we ever have or posses we still have more than ever, and will shine before God as gold. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. Praise God!
Today's Prayer: God, As much as I believe that all things You allow in my life work together for good, I still struggle with communicating with You through my afflictions. I read my Bible and pray, find a moment of hope then lose my desire to keep going when I walk out that door. Lord, I know You do not want me to live like this, I know You want me to lift my head up high, positive that You will see me through. I need Your power to do this, I need Your power to help me get through the day looking to You and having confidence that my faithfulness to You never returns void. One day, after You are done trying me, I will come forth as gold. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Chapters: Job 20-23
Message Title: Why Do The Wicked Prosper
Hello My Friend,
Faithful Christians love living their lives with Christ in it, no matter what they are facing, they still do their best to walk with Jesus and live their lives by His example. So, what happens when we keep doing everything right, but seem to always suffer while others, even unfaithful Christians, seem to get away with everything. There comes a time that every faithful Christian wonders why it seems as though those living in sin prosper when they have to work so hard to get a fraction of what they have. When it seems God will never give us a break from all the suffering, that is when we need to remember God's promise. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” - Psalms 1:1-3.
Job was living a very prosperous life, in fact, he was one of the most richest men alive during his time. People respected him, and they knew his life was great because he gave God the glory for all his success. Even God acknowledged that he was an upright man, yet here he is, laying there in pain with three friends constantly, going on and on about how wicked he is. Perhaps the most critical of the three was Zophar, he didn't hold anything back, convinced that Job was being judged because he refused to admit that he was a sinner. “Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he? He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.” - Job 20:4-9,29.
Now, Zophar is correct in saying that the wicked only prosper for a time, in the end they will suffer more than we ever did, he was wrong in his accusations of Job. We cannot judge a person based on the circumstances they are facing, and no one has a right to judge us. We can condemn a person for having gotten away from going to church or praying in public, but we do not know their circumstances nor do we see what's going on as to why it appears they are not right with God. Perhaps what they need is a little guidance and encouragement from us, they are struggling and need to know that everything is going to be okay, and that God loves them and is still with them. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” - Romans 15:1-4.
Now, Job wonders why the wicked do prosper, when they want nothing to do with God. “Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.” - Job 21:7-9,17-22.
While we cannot always understand why God allows those who care less about Him to have so much while those who are faithful to Him struggle from day to day, we can understand that our faithfulness is not return void. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:7,13,16.
Eliphaz, perhaps the most knowledgeable of God between the three, has hope that things will get better for Job, if he just acknowledge his sin to God and seek forgiveness. “Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment? Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.” - Job 22:2-7,12-14.
Eliphaz was way off in his judgment here, he was being sarcastic as if Job was saying that God does not see and know everything that he has done. God sees and knows everything that is going on with us, even the things we think, but He does not base our prosperity on our works, but in who we are trusting while doing those works. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23.
Job responds to this crazy accusation, “Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.” - Job 23:6-11.
Gold is quite rough looking when it is found in the ground, in order to get that shiny hue it needs to be heated up. Since we are more precious than gold, we can be sure that God is going to put the heat on us a little more than the gold to make us shine. Yeah, we may have to suffer a little more, and to be honest, they suffer too, they just do not admit it. The key to prospering from the suffering is Jesus Christ, even if we lose everything we ever have or posses we still have more than ever, and will shine before God as gold. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. Praise God!
Today's Prayer: God, As much as I believe that all things You allow in my life work together for good, I still struggle with communicating with You through my afflictions. I read my Bible and pray, find a moment of hope then lose my desire to keep going when I walk out that door. Lord, I know You do not want me to live like this, I know You want me to lift my head up high, positive that You will see me through. I need Your power to do this, I need Your power to help me get through the day looking to You and having confidence that my faithfulness to You never returns void. One day, after You are done trying me, I will come forth as gold. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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