God wants believers to serve Him in truth. In fact, it is this very issue that will determine “of what sort” our work is at the judgment seat of Christ.
God offers no account of anyone (apart from Jesus Christ) who ever suffered quite like Job. Job in many ways serves as an example for believers today.
There are times when we attempt to do the right thing only to have our motive judged as impure. In such times, we can learn much from David's example.
Riches and poverty both serve as some of man’s greatest pitfalls. Agur, in his wisdom (see Proverbs chapter 30), sought the Lord for a healthy balance somewhere between the two extremes. He feared riches because riches might cause him to become full and deny the Lord (Proverbs 30:8-9). Conversely, he also feared the outcomes of a life lived in poverty. This might lead him to steal and take the name of God in vain (Proverbs 30:8-9). In the end, Agur expressed a desire for the Lord to feed him with food convenient for him. Yet, he did not trust himself to know what was convenient (Proverbs 30:8). Perhaps, for some people, a greater amount would be convenient and yet a lesser amount for others. Agur recognized that only the Lord possessed the necessary wisdom to determine what balance would be right for him.
Unscriptural authority undermines God’s true authority. Unfortunately, many well-meaning Christians have determined that their own experiences or feelings hijack God’s authority. Authority, however, is only proper when it is within the God-given boundaries established by God’s word. One example is the authority to teach and lead men. According to scripture, this authority is not given to women (1 Timothy 2:12), and when a woman seeks to commandeer this authority, she does so apart from the Lord’s leading. The same holds true when children try to lead the home, or when others seek authority that the Lord never intended for them.
When a believer considers the Bible’s use of “temptation,” he most often associates its usage to something sinful. Though this may be the scripture’s most common usage of the word, context must always be the determining factor. God undeniably tempted Abraham, yet the temptation was not meant to bring about sin. The temptation served as a test of Abraham’s faith. Basically, temptation functions as a means to try one’s faith. James 1:2-3 clearly offers the connection as it incorporates the words “temptations” and “trying” interchangeably. The author, the purpose, and the circumstances surrounding temptations will vary, but the underlying premise remains constant. Each believer must learn how to discern the specifics when tempted.
Oftentimes the right solutions do not resolve the problems overnight—consider Noah, the ark, and the flood. Patience is a necessity! They all knew God’s plan involved drying the earth and sending them forth from the ark. No doubt, each passing day made it increasingly difficult to wait upon the Lord to resolve the problem that kept them locked in the ark. A man who demands a hasty solution to his problems often fails to find God’s ultimate solution. God’s solutions almost always require time and patience. The problems arose over a period of time and finding their solutions takes time also. The areas of life where troubles most often appear (i.e., sin, family, job, finances) are rarely solved apart from time and patience.
Job’s home was certainly not a perfect home, but God testified to this man’s faithfulness. The Bible points to prayer as one of Job’s most faithful qualities. Job continually sought the Lord on his children’s behalf with offerings and prayer. One might consider this a simple task if the family loves and serves God together. Yet, Job’s wife is the only indicator we have of Job’s family and she mocked Job’s faithfulness (Job 2:9). Some husbands and fathers are quick to point out the errors of those within their home, but could only be moved to prayerful intercession before the Lord by a tragic event. A man who fails to pray for his God-given family is really no man at all.
One might think that people who spend a great deal of time studying would not be as weary as one who spends the majority of his time performing physical labour. Perhaps this is true at times, but the Bible indicates that “much study is a weariness of the flesh” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). This is specifically true when it comes to Bible study. Interestingly, man’s flesh can sit for hours reading a novel or watching television, but studying the scripture manifests a weariness of the flesh rather quickly. The eyes begin to feel the burden of remaining open and the mouth begins to yawn. Why? Because the flesh is wearied by study and the Devil uses our natural tendencies against us.
The common misconception concerning love is that it simply involves an emotion felt for those for whom we care. Although love is associated with our emotions, love is, in reality, much deeper than an emotion. It is first and foremost a choice that we consciously make. When God commanded His people to love Him, He was not asking them to feel an emotion, but rather, to choose to care for Him. In like manner, when the Lord commanded husbands to love their wives (Ephesians 5:25), He was not asking merely for an emotional attachment, but something much deeper and far greater. In fact, love is something that can be taught and learned. In Titus 2:4, the older women are to teach the younger women to love their husbands and children. Therefore, when God asks us to love, He is asking us to make a choice to love others regardless of our swinging moods or wavering feelings. Love is a choice to make and a decision to do what God has directed His children to do.
