Do What’s Right

Job 34:4 "Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good." ESV

 

Here is more advice from Elihu. This was advice that is being given to all of the guys…Job and his three friends. This was a corporate thing. This was an "us" thing.

 

I remember when our girls were little. Every now and then they would get on each other's nerves and get a little testy with one another. At one particular time I came to them and gave them a phrase that sticks with us to this day: "Do what's right". I knew that deep down they knew what was right and what was wrong. I was not happy when they did or said the wrong thing. But I really didn't care what they did or what they said or how they acted as long as they did what they knew was the right thing to do. There were always points of decision. Should I say this? Should I do this? Should I go there? Should I follow the crowd? Constant points of decision. Their compass? "Do what's right."

 

Elihu was there. He got it. But he didn't just get it on an individual basis, he got it on a group basis. "Let US choose what is right. Let US know among OURSELVES what is good." Not only is this something that I can decided, it is something that a group can decide. It is something that many can determine corporately.

 

As I think about the weekend the guys had, I wonder what group decisions were made? I wonder what we as a group of guys are going to pursue in the future? What are we going to be committed to? Whatever it is, let's together do what is right and good. Let's together pursue what pleases God. No matter what our society is doing, no matter what our culture pushes, no matter what our government dictates…let us choose what is right.

 

One thing that I think is cool is that most of the New Testament was written to groups. Sure we read it as individuals but Paul's letter were written to churches…corporate bodies who did things together. Group decisions. Group movement. Group passion. Group life. Let US choose what is right.

 

The Game Changer

I Cor 15:42-44 "So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." ESV

 

As I think about it, the day that we call "Good Friday" was a very bad day for many. It was a bad day for Jesus who was tortured and crucified and died. It was a bad day for His mother Mary, who watched her Son go through a horrific death. It was a bad day for John who watched his best Friend get nailed to a cross and who was given the responsibility of taking care of Jesus' mother. It was a bad day for the disciples, who were so cowardly they all scattered and were nowhere to be found. Good Friday was not good at all, and it would have remained bad…until three days later when something happened that had never happened before. This dead Guy, Jesus, walked out of the tomb that He was buried in…alive. He walked out of the tomb under His own power and has not died since. This dead guy, Jesus, is no longer dead. He is alive. This is the resurrection. It is the hope that is reflected in this day, Easter. That is what today is all about. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is a game changer…not just for Jesus but for Mary and John and the disciples. It was such a game changer for the disciples that these scattered cowards all preached the truth of this eternity changing event and they all died martyrs, clinging to its truth.

 

Not only was this event a game changer for these guys, it is a game changer for all of us. All of us who will perish. All of us who are weak. All of us who have physical bodies. That is all of us. And it is a game changer because we no longer have to perish or be weak or have just a physical body. Because Jesus rose from the dead we who were going to perish now can live forever. Those of us who have bodies that decay and are dishonorable can be raised in glory. Those of us who are weak can be raised in power. Those of us who have physical bodies can have spiritual bodies.

 

I say: "Can" because there is one caveat. It is this…"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live even if he dies. And whoever lives and believes in Me will never die." John 11:25 The caveat: Belief in Jesus and what He did on the cross. He took my sin. He took my punishment. He took my grief. Why? "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…". I Pet. 3:18 That one act did it. That is all that was needed. No good works on my part. No blowing myself up. No lighting candles. No self flagellation. No meditation. Just Jesus…on the cross…risen from the dead. That is all. That is enough.

 

That is what this day is all about. The game changer…the resurrection…insuring eternal life for all who believe.

I Love This!

Job 33:26 "then man prays to God, and He accepts him; He sees his face with a shout of joy, and He restores to man His righteousness." ESV

 

So far I like this young guy, Elihu. What he has to say so far is true and compassionate. He doesn't come at Job as a superior, but he comes to him as an equal, a man, a guy who puts his pants on one leg at a time, a "piece of clay". He says to Job: "I desire to justify you." No condemnation, just sympathy and encouragement.

 

Here are some encouraging words, not just for Job but for me: "man prays to God, and He accepts him; He sees his face with a shout of joy, and He restores to man His righteousness". I love it. When I talk to God He accepts me. He looks at me with favor. He is pleased with me. When I talk to God, it makes Him happy. That is wild. That I could satisfy God's heart and that He would embrace me. When you try to spend time thinking about this, it has to blow your mind. This God of eternity accepts puny me.

 

Not only that, when He sees me He verbally rejoices. He shouts. Another verse puts it this way: "The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zeph3:17 This eternal God likes to see me. He is thrilled to see me. When I come to Him and He sees my face, He shouts out a loud: "YES!".

 

And then He does something that I cannot do. He gives me His righteousness. I am dirty. I am sinful. I am a mess. There is nothing right in me. But when I come to Him, when I talk to Him, He embraces me, He rejoices over me and He gives me His character.

 

So pray? Talk to God? Should I? You bet. As much as I can.

 

Speak

Job 32:20 "I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer."

 

Job's friends were done. They ran out of words. Their advice…not that great. The result: disappointment. A younger guy, Elihu sat and listened to all that Job's friends said and he kept quiet. He thought the older guys should teach. He thought that they would have the wisdom so he kept his mouth shut. The problem was, they didn't and he could not help it any more. He had to open his mouth. He had to share what he was thinking because it was about ready to make him explode. "I must speak, that I may find relief…".

 

Now that I am an older guy, do I speak words of truth in love? Do I share valuable words? The question is whether I, as an older guy, I share God's thoughts or my thoughts? Do I talk about what I want or what God wants? Do I tell other people my perspective or God's perspective? The problem that this young guy had was that the old guys were just spouting off their own stuff.

 

I have an opportunity this weekend to talk to a group of around 60 guys at a men's retreat. I think that I have something that is valuable to share, but is it my stuff or God's stuff? My thoughts or God's thoughts? My words or God's words? If it is my stuff then forget it. Don't say it. But if I am convinced that this is what God wants these guys to hear then be like this young guy and let it out. Don't hold it in. No restraint. Let God speak through me as I speak His word to these guys.

 

I pray that what I have to say is not me. I pray that what I have to share is something that God has given me and not something cute that I have dreamed up. I pray that what I have to say makes an eternal impact. I pray that what I have to say is something that we can apply: "Receive instruction from His mouth..." I want this to be from His mouth, not mine.

 

I want God to work through this old guy.

 

 

STOP!

Job 31:24-28 "If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much, if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above." ESV

 

This is in toward the end of Job's discussion of what he had done with his life and what had become of it. He outlined that he helped the poor, the widow, the needy. People listened to him, respected him, stood in his presence, ask for advice from him. He didn't rejoice in his enemy's calamity. He helped the foreigner. He invited people into his home. His children were around him and they were happy. He honored his wife. Frankly, this guy was exactly what God said about him…there was no one like him…blameless and upright. Job lived a life that pleased God and it resulted in good. But then…then things went south. Total calamity overtook him. He lost it all and people mocked him.

 

The thing is, back when he had it all he didn't trust it at all. He didn't put his confidence in all of his stuff and wealth. When he had respect he did not congratulate himself. He didn't kiss his own hand. Why? Because this "would have been false to God above".

 

How true. When we trust our stuff, when we trust our bank accounts, when we trust our 401k's and mutual funds we are being false to God above. When we kiss our hands, when we pat ourselves on the back, when we think we are all that, we are being false to God above. Unfortunately, this is the world. This is the way it is. Our money says: "In God we Trust", but that is false. We don't trust God anymore. We think that we can do it on our own. We can make our own way. We can grab the inner strength and be a self made man and then we can tell everyone how great we are. This is deception. This is a lie. This is being false to God above.

 

Why? Because He is the Source of all things. He gave Job all he had. "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away". Job knew the Source of it all and he was not going to trust the stuff that God provided or the press clippings that he read. It was all God. It was always all God. It will always be all God.

 

So, when I am tempted to think about my bank account, my retirement fund, Social Security and I start to rely on those things…STOP. When I think that all of the things that I have came from my abilities…STOP. Be true to God.

 

Get Smart

Job 28:28 "And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'" ESV

 

Job is responding to his friends and he is asking them a rhetorical question: Where can you find wisdom? He knew the answer…he just wasn't sure they did. He said that it isn't in man. It isn't in nature. It can't be bought. The creatures of the world don't have it. Even Abaddon (a place of destruction) and death have said that they have heard rumors about it. Only God knows the way to it and this is it: Fear Him. And to turn away and run from evil shows that you get it.

 

Sounds familiar: David said it: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!" Ps 111:10 ESV And this Dad was smart enough to pass this on to his son because Solomon also said: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!" ESV Prov. 9:10 And where do you think these guys learned it? Maybe from guys like Job. This truth passed down through centuries of time…and it never changed…and it is still the same.

 

Want wisdom? Fear God. Respect God. Honor God. And as I have written before, yes, be terrified of God. How do I show that I understand wisdom? When I turn away from evil every chance it rears its ugly head.

 

So many times I am faced with a decision to make. Do I do that dumb thing? Do I say that dumb word? Do I think that stupid thought? Run. Turn away. Go the opposite way of the dumb because running toward evil is dumb. Running away from it is smart. And I should run because I fear who God is. He is the Maker and Author of everything who knows how it all works. Why would I not listen to Him? Why would I do or say the opposite of what He commands? That is truly dumb because He knows what is best.

 

God today, as I face different challenges let me fear You and run from evil. Let me be smart and get it.

 

Knowing God

Job 26:14 "Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?" ESV

 

I think that it is pretty cool how Job knew about astronomy and weather. He knew that the earth hung on nothing. He knew about the clouds holding water. I think he also had an idea about the earth's rotation. (vs 7-13) And this is what he has to say about creation…these are the outskirts of his ways…these are but a whisper about God. In comparison, who can really understand the magnitude of His power?

 

And here I am again, back to the theme that has been smacking me in the head and heart for over a year…the massiveness of God. Is God huge? Yes. Can we fully know Him and what He is like in all His splendor and power and awesomeness? I don't think so. But that does not mean that we can't know Him. That does not mean that we cannot grow to know Him more. That does not mean that He is totally undiscoverable. He wants us to know Him. He wants us to grow in our knowledge of what He is like and how He works. How do I know this? Because this is what Jesus prayed. "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." John 17:3 That is the definition of eternal life… to know God and His Son? Yes, because our knowledge of God will never end. It begins the day we repent and believe that Jesus death is all we need for our salvation and it will go on for eternity.

 

So when should I get to know God in all of His majesty? As soon as I believe. "Truly truly I say to you He who hears my word and believes on Him who sent Me has eternal life…". Right now. At the very moment eternal life begins our knowledge of God starts. Not just a head knowledge, although that is part of it. But a heart knowledge, a relationship, an understanding of who He is and what He wants. It begins on the day of salvation and goes on from there for all eternity…because it will take all eternity to understand the magnitude of His power.