What can we Learn from Job?

Today the Church commemorates the Prophet Job, the one we have all heard about, the one who lost everything in being tempted by the devil, the one who loved God more than anything in the world, the one who was willing to die instead of turning away from God. Here’s the question. Is there more than just suffering we can learn from Job’s story?

From the comfort of our living room couch, it is very easy to pretend we could ever have the faith of Job. I often invite people who are really struggling to read his story, not necessarily for courage, but for comfort. I’ve never met anyone who even in their deepest pain are suffering like Job. For me, his story is comforting me to know that “Well….it can always be worse,” and sometimes that is just enough faith to get through the encounter. But, there is still more we can learn from his story.

Job’s story is also a story about stewardship. Job was a very wealthy and influential man. In his profound faith in God, he offered all his wealth (not to mention his health) in the service of proving his love for God. I think that is a stewardship story. We may not have the same wealth or influence that Job possessed, but do we use what little we may have for the glory of God? Take today’s reading from Acts as an example?

In those days, a man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things. – Acts 5.1-11

Ananias and Sapphira had wealth and influence, but they chose to keep it for themselves rather than using for the glory of God, and they lost everything including their lives. Job gave up his wealth and gained his life and then some! One moment they were both wealthy, and the next one was poor but blessed, while the others were dead. When it comes to stewardship we should ask ourselves, “Was our wealth not at our disposal?” Why not offer our wealth for God’s glory?

Of course, stewardship isn’t just about money. In fact, I think it has less to do with money than it has to do with faith, the faith of Job. A Steward of God is asked to love God more than everything, and that includes wealth and influence. When we give sacrificially to the Church in our stewardship, we are not only supporting the holy work of the Church, but we are also expressing our faith in and love for God.

If we suffer a bit by not having extra cash for the fancy vacation, then we can always read Job’s story and realize it could always be worse. God may or more may not allow the devil to take away everything we have, but at least we can express our love for him in our tithing to His Church? Job gave it all. The least we could do is offer our tithe to God’s Church. Happy giving!