Job was At Ease, but God Shook Him
Job gave a testimony about his life before God turned him over to be afflicted by Satan. He said, "I was at ease." (Job 16:12) That reminds me of a military officer telling the soldiers who are standing at attention to be, "at ease." Then, they relax their rigid posture, and they are less stressed than when the officer is inspecting every detail. I think that is what Job was saying about his life. He was having an easy life. Things were going well, and so he had relaxed, thinking everything would be fine. However, God had another plan for his life. God decided to shake him well and use Job for a target. What an awakening for Job.
I believe most Americans want to live a life of ease. They want to take life easy, and do as little work as possible. This even reflects the mindset of many Christians. They want to be comfortable financially, so that they can do just what they want to do. However, if we live a life where we are "at ease," we will tend to neglect seeking God and serving Him. That is when He has to grasp us by the neck and shake us to pieces. That is when He uses us as a target. It is not to harm us, but to teach us that He is Lord, and we are to be constantly alert to His every command, and always have an urgency about serving Him in His way. That is really the best life we can have, not a life of being "at ease." Job learned that, and we need to learn it, too.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 17-20.
I believe most Americans want to live a life of ease. They want to take life easy, and do as little work as possible. This even reflects the mindset of many Christians. They want to be comfortable financially, so that they can do just what they want to do. However, if we live a life where we are "at ease," we will tend to neglect seeking God and serving Him. That is when He has to grasp us by the neck and shake us to pieces. That is when He uses us as a target. It is not to harm us, but to teach us that He is Lord, and we are to be constantly alert to His every command, and always have an urgency about serving Him in His way. That is really the best life we can have, not a life of being "at ease." Job learned that, and we need to learn it, too.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 17-20.