Good Morning “Not Always Blessed the Way We Like.” Today we are in Job 21.
Job responds to Zophar by posing some of his own questions that challenge Zophar’s prosperity way of thinking.
Why do the wicked seem to proper at times while the righteous face suffering and trials. Jobs question can be summed up with a single word… perspective. The world believes long life, health, and lots of shiny things means blessing. But check it out:
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 NIV
“The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.” Ecclesiastes 5:12 NIV
God does bless in those ways for sure… but if that’s all we recognize as blessing we’re stuck in a prosperity Gospel mentality. We’ve tried to put God in a box. He’s a God that can bless with more than just the ways we like.
We’ve talked at length regarding the blessing of suffering (James 1, Romans 5:3-5). It’s suffering that should draw us close to The Lord. He uses trials and suffering to grow us, to mature us and to sanctify us. As we are more committed to Him, in our obedience we store up more treasures in heaven - which we will enjoy for eternity. FOREVER! Trials and suffering are all temporary, as they will pass away when we see Jesus (Revelation 21:4).
I understand that may not make suffering or understanding any easier in the moment. Dr Adrian Rodgers once said “For the non-believer, this World is as close to Heaven as they are ever going to get, so they had better get all they can while they are here! But for followers of Jesus, this World is as close to Hell as they have to get.” In Jesus we trade the temporal for the ETERNAL. Those who reject Jesus trade the eternal for the TEMPORAL. Which makes more sense?
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 NIV
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV
“But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13 NIV
Love you all! Dig in!
Job responds to Zophar by posing some of his own questions that challenge Zophar’s prosperity way of thinking.
Why do the wicked seem to proper at times while the righteous face suffering and trials. Jobs question can be summed up with a single word… perspective. The world believes long life, health, and lots of shiny things means blessing. But check it out:
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 NIV
“The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.” Ecclesiastes 5:12 NIV
God does bless in those ways for sure… but if that’s all we recognize as blessing we’re stuck in a prosperity Gospel mentality. We’ve tried to put God in a box. He’s a God that can bless with more than just the ways we like.
We’ve talked at length regarding the blessing of suffering (James 1, Romans 5:3-5). It’s suffering that should draw us close to The Lord. He uses trials and suffering to grow us, to mature us and to sanctify us. As we are more committed to Him, in our obedience we store up more treasures in heaven - which we will enjoy for eternity. FOREVER! Trials and suffering are all temporary, as they will pass away when we see Jesus (Revelation 21:4).
I understand that may not make suffering or understanding any easier in the moment. Dr Adrian Rodgers once said “For the non-believer, this World is as close to Heaven as they are ever going to get, so they had better get all they can while they are here! But for followers of Jesus, this World is as close to Hell as they have to get.” In Jesus we trade the temporal for the ETERNAL. Those who reject Jesus trade the eternal for the TEMPORAL. Which makes more sense?
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 NIV
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV
“But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13 NIV
Love you all! Dig in!
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