Deep Stuff

 Then Elihu said: “Do you think it is right for you to claim, ‘I am righteous before God’? For you also ask, What’s in it for me? What’s the use of living a righteous life?’ [Job 35.1-3]

Elihu’s response to Job continues in today’s OYCB reading and it is not pretty.

Elihu calls Job out on his self-declaration of righteousness.

Verses 7 and 8 of the same chapter really hit home for Job:

If you are good, is this some great gift to him? What could you possibly give him? No, your sins affect only people like yourself, and your good deeds also affect only humans. [Job 35 7-8]

I mean, “Ouch!”

Once again today, we can see that Job would have been much better off if he just remained silent. But, on the other hand, had he done so, perhaps the pride of his heart would never have manifested so that it might be dealt with… Interesting thought, huh?

The point is, Job had pride and didn’t remain silent. And, that just goes to prove that pride, by nature, always wants to defend itself. The very thing that inspires us to defend ourselves is, more often than not, pride.

Deep stuff.

Father, help me to see pride in my life and get rid of it before it gets me into trouble! Forgive me for my self-centeredness, self-righteousness, and self-absorbed thinking.