The Faith of Job
In the Old Testament book of Job we find an interesting scenario. God points out Job as a good man while seemingly setting Job up to suffer at the hands of Satan. In fact the devil is allowed to do anything to this faithful servant of God except take his life. Ever the opportunist, Satan kills Job's children, takes away all this earthly possessions, and finally covers the poor man with boils. Job loses everything that we consider worth living for: health, family and possessions.
What follows though is more interesting and thus takes the better part of the rest of the book. Job and his friends begin to argue about why this happened. Was it because Job was a sinner as his friends, implies or was Job the victim on an unjust God? Doesn't God bless those who serve Him with wealth?
As the discussion progresses it becomes clear that each man has opinions about the situation. Their theology is rigid. Job is suffering because of his sin. But Job maintains his righteousness therefore something has gone wrong in heaven.
Finally God shows up and addresses the situation, but instead of giving Job an answer, God challenges Job to answer some questions of His Own. "Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?" asks the Lord. "Where were you win I laid the foundation of the earth?" asks the Lord. "Can you bind the chains of Pleiades, or loose the cord of Orion?" "Can you draw out the Leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord?"
Job cannot answer. He is in the presence of one who is mightier and wiser than he. God has shown the small stature and limited understanding of Job (and us). All this man can muster up to say is "I know You can do all things...I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes." Hmmm. Here is a man who has suffered greatly yet maintains his faith in God. God does as He pleases. And sometimes we must walk through the valley trusting Him.
We learn from this brief look at Job that God deserves our devotion regardless of our circumstances. He makes no promises of health and wealth in this world and to serve Him thinking this way is not serving God but an idol. God is worthy of our lives simply because of who He is.
We'd do well to imitate Job's faith. He accepted the bad with the good always trusting - though not understanding the goodness and righteousness of God. He believed God was able to do as pleased with his life all the while keeping the faith.
"Count it all joy...when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect work that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing."