October 2nd
Job 22:1-24:25; Matthew 21:18-32; Proverbs 3:21-35
I am troubled this morning. I have to admit that Job’s friend Eliphaz has not been the wisest of counsels throughout this conversation and yet today he gets it so wrong. “Can a man be of benefit to God?” he asks “What pleasure would it be for the almighty if you were righteous?”
The news yesterday carried a story about a vending machine that kicked out gold bars. Personally I’d prefer a Mars and a Sprite but in a world where people sprinkle gold on their cappuccinos there is demand for this luxury. But, despite what Eliphaz might think, we are worth more to God than any amount of gold or silver. In a series of parables that Jesus brings together, the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son, it is made quite clear how important we are to God.
Remember all that stuff that we said at the start of the book of Job about how wonderful and mighty heaven is, that the devil is hemmed in by God and his domain. There is news for Eliphaz, the whole of heaven will rejoice when people come back to God. That is how much one man or woman, boy or girl is worth.
There are times in life when we can feel quite worthless, a bit like Job is feeling right now. We may feel as though parents, teachers, friends, spouses or work colleagues do not notice us, we just seem invisible. Later in today’s reading Job talks about how he just can’t seem to find God (ch23 vv8-9), and yet God can find him: “But he knows the way that I take” (ch 23 v10). David knew this when he wrote Psalm 139 and spoke of the fact that God knew exactly where he was all the time, something that we also need to remember.
Spend a bit of time with God right now. If, like Job, you have been struggling to find God because of everything that is going on in your life, stop looking and know that God is right there with you. If you can’t see Him, He can see you and just rest in that knowledge for a few minutes.
I am troubled this morning. I have to admit that Job’s friend Eliphaz has not been the wisest of counsels throughout this conversation and yet today he gets it so wrong. “Can a man be of benefit to God?” he asks “What pleasure would it be for the almighty if you were righteous?”
The news yesterday carried a story about a vending machine that kicked out gold bars. Personally I’d prefer a Mars and a Sprite but in a world where people sprinkle gold on their cappuccinos there is demand for this luxury. But, despite what Eliphaz might think, we are worth more to God than any amount of gold or silver. In a series of parables that Jesus brings together, the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son, it is made quite clear how important we are to God.
Remember all that stuff that we said at the start of the book of Job about how wonderful and mighty heaven is, that the devil is hemmed in by God and his domain. There is news for Eliphaz, the whole of heaven will rejoice when people come back to God. That is how much one man or woman, boy or girl is worth.
There are times in life when we can feel quite worthless, a bit like Job is feeling right now. We may feel as though parents, teachers, friends, spouses or work colleagues do not notice us, we just seem invisible. Later in today’s reading Job talks about how he just can’t seem to find God (ch23 vv8-9), and yet God can find him: “But he knows the way that I take” (ch 23 v10). David knew this when he wrote Psalm 139 and spoke of the fact that God knew exactly where he was all the time, something that we also need to remember.
Spend a bit of time with God right now. If, like Job, you have been struggling to find God because of everything that is going on in your life, stop looking and know that God is right there with you. If you can’t see Him, He can see you and just rest in that knowledge for a few minutes.
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