Job is responding here to his “counselors,” who are continually berating him for his sin — and for not accepting the fact that God is punishing him for that sin. Each of them drones on about how God treats the righteous and how the wicked ultimately get destroyed. Then Job says, “How can your empty cliches comfort me? All your explanations are lies!” (Job 21:34 NLT).
The Main Pillar of A Secular Worldview
I wonder whether the Western church today has fallen into a similar deception. Somehow, we think that God owes us peace, prosperity, and happiness, that good will always win, and that evil will always lose. Natasha Crain points out that this is the main pillar of a secular worldview — in direct opposition to a biblical worldview: “Happiness is the ultimate goal for living.” What logically follows is, “If God can’t or won’t provide that, then He isn’t worth following.”
We refuse to consider that the world isn’t fair: “One person dies in prosperity, completely comfortable and secure, the picture of good health, vigorous and fit. Another person dies in bitter poverty, never having tasted the good life. But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots” (Job 21:23-26 NLT).
Friends, life is not fair. The only thing God owes us is judgment. In Oswald Chambers’ devo on John 3:16, he makes the statement, “In our surrender, we must give ourselves to God in the same way He gave Himself for us— totally, unconditionally, and without reservation.” We don’t get to say, “But Lord, what about him . . . Or her?” We can only cry, “What about You?!? Today, I’m all in for You! No matter what the outcome, I believe You’re good and that You’re good to me. Let me be Your Ambassador today to whomever and in whatever circumstance You bring my way!”
I totally agree Rick. I have equally shared how my dad taught me at a very young age the world isn’t fair. Bad things have and will continue to happen to good God fearing people. We were never promised trouble free living as believers. In fact Jesus always spoke contrary to this. This is why I believe we need to thank God every day for each and every blessing He gives us because tomorrow is promised to no one
Live with an attitude of gratitude!!
So true!