When Things Go Wrong, Worship God ( Job 1:20-22 )

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Job 1:20-22

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I believe we all have heard of the patience of Job. Truly we can learn from it,but tonight I wish to examine a couple of verses that bless my heart and I pray they do you as well. As you know for anyone who has read this story. That at this point Job has lost everything, his sheep have been killed, camels taken away, and his children have been killed when the house fell on them. To make matters worse in the next chapter his wife tells him to curse God and die( Job 2:9 ). Real nice encouragement ? To top matters off as the story continues Job's three friends counsel him and well, not exactly the friends you need in a time like this.

So what is Job's response to losing everything? Does he lose his temper? Does he blame God ? No, Job worships God. Wow, he worships Him. Friends how many of us can say when all hell breaks loose we worship God. How many times can we say that when things don't go our way we praise God? Friends this is something I'm getting better at daily, not arrived at, but getting better. I'd say God really taught me a hard lesson last year when I couldn't drive for three months. Being 26 and not being able to drive is tough. There were people I wanted to see and things I wanted to do, but my options were limited. Thankfully the Lord provided me rides to church, youth services and times of fellowship with my brethren, not to mention I still kept my job. For some time even once I could drive I couldn't understand why I went through this trial. Even though I understood God was in control and had a purpose I didn't know why. It wasn't till a little while after I realized. I realized God used this time to humble me. Let me also tell you this while He humbled me then He continues to humble me. Friends you don't get to a point with God of perfect humility. Instead I would tell you I continue to grow in humility by God's grace. What I had realized is that there was an area in my life that I had a degree of pride that needed to be knocked down. Praise God that He broke me. Now I can say looking back that by God's grace I've grown and look forward to growing more and more in Him. Friends through this I learned to praise Him even in the worst times. I do honestly believe now thinking on this that, that the time was also used to make me understand the depth of praising Him in tough times. It was not long after this that my grandmother was in the hospital and once again my faith was tested. Yet again the Lord was faithful and upheld me.

Another example and this one maybe not near as deep as the other day as I was driving home from school and my allergies which lately have been acting up starting bothering me. Well, I could have complained,but here is some advice on complaining it doesn't do you nor anyone else good so why waste your time or your life. Well, instead I turned my praise and worship music on my radio louder and worshiped God. Granted I do this daily, but on this day God used the worship to first and foremost to receive glory for His name and also to help get my mind off my problem. See friends I know my allergies may be little compared to what Job went through, but what I'm illustrating is this no matter how big or how small your problem give God glory through your praise. Instead of focusing on the problem seek to give His name praise. Remember we were created to worship Him.

Following this Job says in verse 21 we came in with nothing and nothing shall we leave with. The Apostle Paul echoed these words to Timothy( 1 Timothy 6:7 ) and I do believe we need to take them to heart. There is nothing in this world that should come between our relationship with God. Nothing, not a friend, not a boyfriend/girlfriend, not a job, not a material item, and not even your family. I know this sounds rough, but friends when you put anything above your relationship to God you have just set forth another god before Him. Does not the scriptures say, " Thou shalt have no other gods before me. " ( Exodus 20:3 ) Another thing to consider is what Jesus said, " And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."( Matthew 5:29-30) Granted this text is on adultery, but it is talking about sin. Friends if something or someone in your life is hindering you or causing you to sin then cut it off. Better to not have that thing or that relationship than to have that thing or person and be in hell.

In closing it says that Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly. Amazing despite everything he lost he never sinned nor blamed God. You know this encourages me and should encourage you too. Job recognized that he served a sovereign God. He realized that no matter what happened that God was still on the throne. It is this assurance that we can rest on that no matter how things go in life we can say as Job said blessed be the name of the Lord. This goes for good times and bad. Here is something I thought of and I of course give credit for this saying to my Creator, God, praise God in the storms of life and think how much louder your praise shall be in the sun.

Be encouraged my brethren as you go throughout your walk with Him. Don't be weary of doing good. If He gives or He takes away remember to still give Him praise for nothing we have is ours, but all that which is His. Instead thank God for everything. Have an attitude of gratitude. When I think of the very fact that He saved me based not on my merit,but on the merit and work of His Son( Ephesians 2:8-10), I am humbled and very grateful.


Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><