Materialism and Selfishness
By the end of chapter one we learn that Job lost everything except his wife and his health. Of course, in chapter two he will lose his health, as well. What was Job's reaction to losing his family, his possessions, and his property? It is a wonderfully thoughtful response, "And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."(Job 1:21)
This is not the response of a desperate, angry man. His words show an inner peace and contentment that sprang from his trust in God. His concern was not the loss of material possessions. He was even willing to accept the death of his children and their families. Through it all, he was willing to bless the name of the Lord. I firmly believe this was the response of a man who held little regard for material things and who realized that even our children are gifts from God. Nothing we have is ours. We are simply stewards of what God allows us to have for our time on earth.
This attitude would serve us all well. It is very close to the mindset of Jesus, who did not own a house and apparently had no money of His own while he was on this earth. This attitude leads us to true contentment which is the pathway to total peace and the ability to do whatever God asks us to do without talking back to Him. I highly recommend it as a goal for all of us to strive for.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 2-4.
This is not the response of a desperate, angry man. His words show an inner peace and contentment that sprang from his trust in God. His concern was not the loss of material possessions. He was even willing to accept the death of his children and their families. Through it all, he was willing to bless the name of the Lord. I firmly believe this was the response of a man who held little regard for material things and who realized that even our children are gifts from God. Nothing we have is ours. We are simply stewards of what God allows us to have for our time on earth.
This attitude would serve us all well. It is very close to the mindset of Jesus, who did not own a house and apparently had no money of His own while he was on this earth. This attitude leads us to true contentment which is the pathway to total peace and the ability to do whatever God asks us to do without talking back to Him. I highly recommend it as a goal for all of us to strive for.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 2-4.