Love Is The Key Ingredient

All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me. For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help. I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy. Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban. I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help. I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth. [Job 29.11-17]

Can a man be innocent before God? Perhaps Job thought so. His description of himself above would lead me to believe Job felt like he'd done the right things. 

If Job said too much before, surely now he clearly revealed his weakness.

In fact, Job did do everything right it appears. Well, except one thing... In the passage above (Job's list of accomplishments for God), there are around twelve references to "I" and "me." That's almost 2 per verse as Bible chapter-and-verse goes! 

Job seems pretty proud of his benevolence and that makes me think of something the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church: 

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. [1 Corinthians 13.3]

Wow. This passage seems like Job's story wrapped up in one sentence.

Job's story serves to remind us that no matter how much we do everything right, if we do not have love, it is of no heavenly use. Love is the key ingredient.

Father, help me to understand just how much You have first loved me, in order that I might love accordingly.