The Lord Gives and Takes: Job

   When looking at the Bible many people were tested. However, there was one person who was tested to the extreme measure: Job.

   In Job 1 we find out that Job was very rich and followed God. By all accounts Job was what we would consider by today’s standards, a good person. He cared for his servants, possessions, family, and God. Then one day disaster struck: one servant after another came to tell Job bad news. In the end it turned out that Job’s oxen, donkeys, sheep, servants, camels, and children were all taken or dead.

   Could you imagine if all of your possessions were taken from you in one fell swoop? That’s exactly what happened to Job. He had all of his possessions taken. He had his children taken. Many of us would have yelled at God and asked him why this happened. Job said “the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job.1.21).

   Job recognized something that many of us have a hard time understanding. God has given us everything we have. You may say, “well I worked for my money and used it to buy everything I have.” Who gave you your job? Who gave you the talents you have to get that job? That’s right, God gave you those things.

   These days we are going through are not easy. But rather than look at what we lost maybe we need to be like Job? Job lost everything that we consider important on the earth except for his spouse. And, he didn’t even know why it happened! Job had extreme faith in God. He trusted that God was still working for good. He gave thanks to God even in his difficult circumstance.

   1 Thessalonians 5:18 says: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” We are to give thanks in all circumstances. That means when we are offered a job promotion we give thanks. When we lose our job we are to give thanks. When things don't go the way we planned we are to give thanks. When a family member or friend is diagnosed with a serious illness we are to give thanks. We don’t just give thanks in the good, we give thanks in the bad too. We do that because we trust that God has a plan, even if we don’t know what that plan is.

   I encourage you to think about what you lost and what you still have. Think about what God has blessed you with over the years. Thank him for all he has done, is doing, and will do in your life.

   Image from here.