Entitlement To Possessions And Life

Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked. [Job 9.20] 

Sorting out everything that was "said" in Job's story is a daunting task.

On one hand, Job and his friends said things that seemed Biblically accurate - even profound. And then, on the other hand, they said things clearly not true according to Scripture.

Job's own words, in Job 9.20 above should be considered thoughtfully.

If we remember, in the beginning of his ordeal, Job said very little. Consequently, what he did say was specifically noted for its uprightness... What changed?

Well, nothing changed about Job's character any more that anything changed about God's character. So, what do we know about Job's character? God's own words should be sufficient confirmation:

Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” [Job 1.8]

THINK! God compared Job to every man on earth. And, what do we know about every man on earth? They are ultimately the seed of Adam and, as such, are fallen in nature. Just because Job was better than everyone else on earth means nothing when absolute holiness is the standard. So, from fallen man's perspective, God accurately characterized Job as blameless - a man of complete integrity. He was indeed better than everyone else on earth.

But there is more. Because fallen Satan is not God, he can only judge men on the same basis they compare themselves to - to one another's actions and words. He cannot know man's heart the way God knows man's heart, so Satan can only compare any man by what is seen and heard in all men. Up to this point, Job's actions and words certainly earned him the earthly title "the finest man in all the earth." But being the finest man in all the earth did not exempt Job from God's standard of absolute holiness - and thus, God's confrontation with Satan ensued...

Even after the first test of "losing everything" Job maintained his integrity inadvertently proving Satan wrong in what he (Satan) said to God:

But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” [Job 1.11] 

After losing everything he had, and contrary to what Satan predicted, Job said: 

“I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” [Job 1.21] 

Then, it looked like Satan was wrong again in his prediction about Job's second test ...at least initially. Satan said:

But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!” [Job 2.5] 

 Although Job's wife was no help, Job, at first, still retained his integrity:

But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. [Job 2.10]

And then, Job's friends showed up... 

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words. [Job 2.13]

It would seem all was good (as far as Job's integrity) up to this point. And then...

At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth. [Job 3.1]

We must understand that Job did not experience a change of character here. He simply finally revealed what God knew all along about his heart - it was fallen - it was broken - it was idolatrous and therefore embittered against God, tracing back to the Garden of Eden where Satan first planted that seed of doubt, "has God really said...?" provoking man to sin through entitlement.

What followed Job's losing everything he had and losing precious health was not "giving up his own way" and was not "taking up his cross" but instead, a torrent of self-focused diatribe against God revealing his fallen entitlement-riddled heart. He finally spoke from the abundance of his fallen heart (Matthew 12.34). And, whether he actually realized it or not when he said it, Job spoke God's honest truth in Job 9.20:

Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked. [Job 9.20] 

Having taken from Jesus' words above...

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

...it should be pointed out in contrast that on His cross, Jesus said very little. But, a couple things He said revealed an entirely different heart. Consider the following:

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. [Luke 23.34] 

And, as God With Us, Jesus asked God a question while on the Cross, not to get an answer, but to reveal a truth:

At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” [Matthew 27.46] 

The Truth revealed in Jesus' question above is best seen in yet other words Jesus' said from the Cross:

When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. [John 19.30] 

Having given up His own way, and taken up His Cross, Jesus revealed Himself: the only way to salvation.

Job's story foretells Jesus on the Cross except in one point: Jesus never doubted. Job's story reveals the battle in every man's heart that every man must acknowledge and overcome: doubt of God evidenced by idolatrous entitlement to possessions and life. This battle is found and won only in Jesus. 

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

This victory only comes when humans answer Satan's entitlement-provoking question planted deep in their hearts, "Has God really said...?" with the Word (the Way, the Truth, and the Life - Jesus), Who is our "yes" and "amen." We answer this question every day by following Jesus and Him alone.

Indeed a LOT is said in Job's story. Our task is, by understanding all of God's Word, to understand how it all fits together in Job's story - in our story. Job's story is indeed our story... unless of course, Jesus has changed our story!

What is said here should provoke us to deep contemplation about our lives and circumstances. I know it is doing just that in me. I am not much liking the entitlement to possessions and life I see in Job - in me... I don't like that entitlement I hear coming from my mouth (ultimately from my heart). Jesus' words will never lose their potency in calling us out of our idolatrous entitlement to possessions and life:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Will we answer that call? Will we give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus? Has Jesus changed our story? Do our actions and our words confirm that?

Father, I feel like there are so many ideas presented in this article. So much has been "said" (just like in Job's story). Help me to methodically and faithfully sort it all out as Your Holy Spirit reminds me of Your Word - of Jesus. So be it.