Reflections on Job

As some of you may know, this semester I am taking a course in Old Testament Literature with Dr. Chris Miller. Throughout the next few weeks, I have a few assignments writing short reflection papers on some of the books we are learning about. Since these have taken up some of my current writing/pondering of the day, I thought I would just include them on my blog. Here's my reflection on Job.



The theme of Job is to love God for who He is, not because loving Him is personally beneficial. As I was thinking about this, my mind wandered back to friend in high school who was very “good.” He hung out with all the right people, volunteered, and from my perspective was a basically good guy; however, he clearly did not identify himself as a follower of Christ. He would often choose what I considered righteousness over sin. At that time, I felt a little annoyed. Even though he wasn’t a Christian, he seemed to be living a more “Christian” life than most of the people I knew at church. And he seemed to be reaping the benefits of living a Christian life even though he had rejected a relationship with God.

I began to wonder how important my relationship with God really was. If people could be blessed the same way I was apart from God, what was really the point in dedicating all this time to Him?

In light of our discussion of Job, I feel that my discontent stemmed from a distorted view of my relationship with God. It was pragmatic. Even though I often chose to do the right thing, it was often just me taking God’s commandments and thinking of a practical reason why it would be the better thing do-- whether it be improving the quality of my life or making me feel better about myself or saving me from the consequences of negative behavior.

The book of Job demonstrates that I am to obey and love God for who He is. And if that’s hard for me, it may be because my view of God is too narrow. Seeing even just a glimpse of God should be enough to bring me into worship and humility before Him. His greatness and holiness is beyond my comprehension. God exalts himself through his creation and His word. When God speaks to Job, He doesn’t try to give Job a philosophical explanation for his suffering; but rather, He says “Look at creation, look at Me; I’m God, you’re not; I’m big, you’re small; I’m eternal, perfect, powerful, holy…That’s why.”

In response to Crabb’s article, I don’t think that serving God for who He is has to come down to a blind leap of faith, but rather an accurate view, trust in and relationship with the nature and character of God. We should be like children listening to the voice of our father, not because what He says makes sense, but because we are confident in His love and know His character.

When I make God too small, I don’t choose righteousness. I don’t recognize my actions in light of His holiness. Instead I am only thinking about myself, exalting myself and focusing only on what I gain.
As I think about my friend, the one who rejected Christ yet chose a life of so-called righteousness, I wonder if there is really a difference between him and myself. Surely there should be. But if I were to reject Christ, how much would my actions change? I’m sure some convictions that I have as a Christian would continue as a non-Christian because of their pragmatic value, especially since I tend toward a cautious disposition or fear of “getting caught” doing something wrong. I wonder what would actually change.

A good measure of how well I am doing in following Christ with the right motives, is considering what I would participate in if I did not have to consider it in the light of God’s holiness.

Why do I serve God when it would be much easier to simply not? What about sins that benefit me with no consequences? Why am I so compelled to live life as God has commanded? The only explanation I can offer is my encounter with Christ, my relationship with the creator. Before Him I am nothing and He is everything. That is why I serve Him. That is why I love Him. Because He IS.