JOB 29:25 – I chose their way and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY AND PRIVILEGE. The Old Testament book of Job is not an easy read especially if one goes through it mindlessly and fast; perhaps as a necessary part of a yearly reading through the Bible plan. However, if we apply the wise counsel of King Solomon to our reading, we will reap tremendous benefits, blessings, and instruction – My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5).
Today’s scripture is just a little past the halfway mark in Job. By now, his patience has grown quite thin with the counsel from his so called “friends” named Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite (Job 2:11). They have accused him of being irreverent toward God, living a life of hypocrisy, refusing to repent, and hostile toward their instruction. All their accusations were false, and Job 29, its entirety, is Job defending himself. As one reads the chapter, Job defines what his life has been, and it was noteworthy. He was respected among the people of the town (Job 29:7-11). He met the needs of the poor, needy, orphans, widows, the handicapped, stood for the oppressed in society, and gave wise counsel to those seeking such from him (Job 29:12-24). There is something else Job did which is the main emphasis today and one that translates to our responsibility and privilege as New Covenant believers – Job comforted the hurting. He ministered to those who mourn in life.
God has declared Himself as the God of all comfort – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer (2 Corinthians 1:3-6).
We need to go a little deeper in this truth. It is a wonderful truth bringing great assurance to us that God is our God of all comfort, and our Father no less, but there is something else that is to be applied and makes us like Job; a comforter of mourners. Pay attention to what we are to do with God’s comfort we receive. Share it. Minister it to others. Remember, everything we have in life is received from God to be stewards, not hoarders – For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 4:7). So that means, we have a ministry that is a responsibility and a privilege – to give comfort to those who mourn, to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15).
So, Job isn’t really that hard of a book to read and especially when it comes to seeing an example of him for us concerning the ministry of comfort to those who need it!
PRAYER: “Father, help me to see I am my brother’s and sister’s keeper in serving and loving them.”
QUOTE: “To live for me, my, and mine is to ensure a joyless Christian experience. We die to self, not live for self.
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim