The Tragedy Of Following Christ

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] 

The reply above was made following a second wave of disaster in which Job was afflicted in his body. Job's wife had just encouraged him to curse God and die. 

Then, Job's friends showed up with an emotional seven-day show of mourning and grief... after which the Word of God indicates Job had a change of attitude:

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

What followed Job 3.1 is a torrent of nasty things Job said about being born. We must see and understand that what Job said after his friends' week-long pity party (Job 3.3-26) is a significant digression from what Job said earlier about being born: 

Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He 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!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. [Job 1.20-22]

Even though Job is well-documented of having said nothing wrong up to the point of his friends' visit, we have no such Biblical confirmation after his friends' seven-day mourning party (to which Job responded by cursing the day of his birth). In fact, for Job to curse the day of his birth was to curse God Who gave him life! 

When God finally gets a word in, He calls Job to reckoning specifically about what he had been saying:

Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? [Job 38.1-2]

To think that God did not know what lay dormant in Job's heart before the two waves of tragedy is ludicrous.

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” [Jeremiah 17.9-10]

After God's two-chapter rant against Job (Job 38-39), Job has another change of attitude:

Then Job replied to the LORD, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.” [Job 40.3-5]

Job's repentance is then followed by another two chapters (Job 40-41) of God rebuking Job (do you think Job might have touched a nerve??).

Now, anyone who is familiar with my writing knows that what is written here is simply "more of the same" from years gone by. But in this article I want to make an association never before seen or mentioned by me...

Should we wonder why there were two waves of tragedy that struck Job? Would not one good wipe out of everything have sufficed? Yes, in fact it would have... But! The distinction between the two waves of tragedy upon Job's life points us to Christ. How?

Everything Job owned and lost in the first tragedy, including his children, can be summed up as Job's belongings, Job's welfare, Job's ways... In contrast, everything Job lost in the second tragedy had to do with his personal physical life.

Jesus succinctly mentioned a man's ways and his life in the following:

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)]

To misunderstand the tragedy of Job is to misunderstand the tragedy of following Christ.

Job, at first, righteously embraced his tragedies yielding to God's control of everything. But then, following his wife's and his friends' bad advice, Job complained, Job revolted, and in that pride, Job sinned. But in the end, Job repented and was restored.

Jesus calls us to embrace the same tragedies Job faced. We must give up our own way (everything that is "ours"), take up our cross (everything that is "life"), and follow Him. Complaining and revolting (proud sin) against this tragedy in our life prevents us from being a "follower of Christ." Only in repentance for our selfish pride of ownership and life will we ever realize Kingdom-living as Jesus described in Matthew 6:

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. [Matthew 6.25-34]

Only in following Jesus can we, as did Job, righteously say, “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!” and “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” This is in fact what giving up our own way and taking up our cross sounds (and looks) like.

Any and everything designed to preserve our belongings and our life should be suspect for idolatry.

Father, here today I see the battle between idolatry and following Christ. And here I see it in the book of Job. Your Word is amazing and I am grateful for it. May I find the strength of Your Holy Spirit accompanying Your Word as I engage in this battle today myself and encourage others likewise. So be it.