Job 1:13-22 – Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

THEME OF THE DAY: HOW WOULD YOU REACT? Imagine this scene. Life is going well. Our bills are paid, investments prospering, and we are financially secure. As for the family, our children are healthy and the relationship with them really good. We are sailing through life enjoying the many blessings of God, but then . . . suddenly, natural disasters hit and our investments are lost. Equally lost are all material goods. One day we were settled and secure, and today, we have nothing. Everything of earthly material value has vanished. How would you react? Shocked? Doubting God’s goodness? Maybe even angry at God? Or you might react like this, “You know, all this material stuff was fine, but it was just things. They aren’t really what is important. I still have what is most precious – my family.” But then . . . someone knocks on your door and the news is devastating. Not only have you lost every material thing in your life, you just got word your entire family has died. Perished in a tornado. All your kids are gone. Now what is your reaction? Now what are your thoughts about God?

Life is tough. It contains much pain and grief. There will be times of great joy and of great sorrow. We rejoice in the gifts God gives such as material things and family. We will also grieve when His mysterious sovereign will removes those things and people from us This is the stark reality of living life in this world. It will not change. We are powerless to avoid the “low periods” in life and we are powerless to keep the “high periods” in life. But what we are able to do is control our reaction during hurting times; times like we see in Job’s life. And there are two possible responses.

First, when suffering and loss of the most precious things and people in life come, we may complain “not fair” to God and become bitterly angry toward Him. This will lead to a hard-heart which will produce a sad life of misery. Life will become one of living in the past of “better days” and never be enjoyed to the fullest extent God intended. Yet, what will be most destructive with a heart of anger toward God will be the lack of knowing His comfort and love through tough times in life. Remember, suffering will make us bitter or better. How we react in trying times will determine which defines us.

The second response to God’s sovereign will that includes sorrow, pain and loss is that of Job. Notice what he did – “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.” This, my friend, is the way to honor God in our pain. Is it hard? Yes, but remember the amazing grace that saved us will also be the amazing grace that enables us to react in dark times like Job. May God help us react in “good times” and “bad times” in a manner that always pleases Him.

PRAYER: “Lord, help me to hold all things and people in this life with an open hand.”

QUOTE: “Everything and everyone we have in life come from God, are owned by God, and controlled by God.”