GOOD JOB JOB
Introduction:
1. Ever since I came under the mentorship of
Rex Turner back in the late sixties I have found it difficult to resist unusual
lesson titles. I will never, however, be able to compete with his title for a
lesson on the Prodigal Son styled, Giving the Pigs a Permanent Wave.
2. But of a considerably greater and more
important impact on me was the way brother Turner taught his students to look
into the text for a deeper than surface meaning.
3. Job is a book offering many opportunities
to discover a depth of teaching.
4. As we observe how God reckoned that Job
had done a good job with the trials sent his way, we will learn some of the
Bible’s most important lessons about how to have a successful relationship with
the Lord.
I. A Good Job, But Not A Flawless Job.
A. Job was not always at his best (Job
7:19-20; 9:22-24; 10:1-3; 16:17).
B. He was reproved by God for his presumption
(Job 38:1-3; 40:1-2).
II. A Good Job, But Not As Productive As
Was Expected In Less Trying Times.
A. When things were going well, God expected
and received better productivity from Job (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3).
B. If we fail to serve God with excellence
in good times we are wasting an opportunity to “make hay while the sun shines.”
C. With blessings come expectations (Lk.
12:48b).
III. A Good Job
Because Job Did Not Persist In His Failings.
A. God did not abandon Job in the failings
of his struggle, but He did expect him to “get over it” (Job 40:3-5; 42:1-6).
B. Jeremiah had similar moments with God
(Jer. 12:1-6; 20:7-18).
IV. A Good Job Because Job Never Completely
Turned Form God In His Struggle.
A. In the midst of all Job’s strife, and
never long after his failings, Job reached out in faith for God (Job 1:20-22;
2:9-10; 13:13-15; 14:14-15; 16:18-19; 19:27; 23:6-7).
B. Job could go neither far nor remain long
away from God (cf. I Jn. 1:7).
C. It is when we persist in rebellion that
God no longer walks with us (cf. I Kg. 15:4-5).
D. God’s gracious avenue of faith allowed
Job to receive what he did not deserve—forgiveness (Job 42:1-9).
Conclusion:
1.
Let us work with
zeal in the times of blessing.
2.
Let us hold on in
the times of trial.
3.
Let us take
comfort in knowing that God will not leave us in our out-of-character failings,
He will only leave us if we persist is our sins.
Edwin
8/26/01
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