|
About
CFCFFL
Who
is the CFCFFL?
The
Movement for Restoration Our
Covenant
Our
Mission and Vision
Our Statement of philosophy
Our
Core Values
Family Ministries Kids
for Family and Life (KFL) Youth
for Family and Life (YFL)
Singles
for Family and Life (SFL)
Handmaids
for Family and Life (HFL)
Servants
for Family and Life (SvFL)
Wish
to JOIN?
The
highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity,
choosing right over wrong, ethics over convenience, and truth over
popularity.
Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for THERE IS
NEVER A WRONG TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
-
Bishop Soc Villegas
25 July 2007
|
<<Go
back to menu
LESSONS OF JOB
(Part 14)
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JOB
A verse from today's
reading from the letter to the Romans tells us, "Freed from
sin, you have become slaves of righteousness." (Rom 6:18).
Today we look at the righteousness of Job.
Our theme for 2010 tells us that God is just and righteous. As
children of God, we too must be just and righteous. In this we can
look to Job who is a model of righteousness. "In the land of Ur
there was a blameless and upright man named Job, who feared God and
avoided evil." (Job 1:1). When he experienced terrible
affliction and suffering, Job could not understand why. He had
difficulty accepting what happened to him because "he was
righteous in his own eyes." (Job 32:1). Elihu quoted him as
saying: "I am clean and without transgression; I am innocent;
there is no guilt in me." (Job 33:9).
Job looked over his life, examined his conscience, and found no
unrighteousness. He confidently "challenged" God to judge
him. "Let God weigh me in the scales of justice; thus will he
know my innocence!" (Job 31:6). What was the righteousness of
Job? How are we ourselves deemed to be righteous? Let us look at the
varied and practical ways by which we, like Job, will be judged to
be righteous (as expounded on by Job in chapter 31).
One, there should be no falsehood or deceit (Job 31:5). Two, we must
not abuse the land or the environment (Job 31:38). Three, there must
be just compensation for the work of tenant-farmers (Job 31:39).
Four, we must not lust against a woman (or a man), whether in deed
or in thought (Job 31:1,9). Five, there must be just treatment for
servants or employees (Job 31:13). Six, we must love, care for, and
share our resources with the poor (Job 31:16-17,19). Seven, we must
not afflict the innocent or the poor (Job 31:21). Eight, we must not
trust or find our security in wealth, or find our joy in material
possessions (Job 31:24-25). Nine, we must not engage in idolatrous
worship (Job 31:26-28). Ten, we must not find joy in the misfortunes
of our enemies (Job 31:29). Eleven, we must be hospitable (Job
31:31-32). Twelve, we must not live hypocritical lives, as we hide
our sins and guilt in order to gain the approval of others (Job
31:33-34). Such as these, very varied attitudes and actions, are
what make for righteousness and holiness.
Job indeed was righteous. Why then was he afflicted? Why did God
allow him to suffer terribly? Was God just in His ways? This was
what precisely bothered Job. And so at the end of his discussion
with his three friends, with all his protestations of innocence, Job
exclaimed, "This is my final plea; let the Almighty answer
me!" (Job 31:37c).
God does answer later, after Elihu's speeches. But God does not
directly answer Job's concerns. Rather, God simply points to His
great power and majesty. In all this, there is much for us to
ponder. How inscrutable and mysterious are God's ways!
Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? There are
many ways to answer this, which we leave for another time. But what
is important, what will help us humbly accept and endure, is simply
the truth that God is just and righteous. Elihu had it right, when
he said, "Surely, God cannot act wickedly, the Almighty cannot
violate justice." (Job 34:12). The Almighty! Just and righteous
is He!
God bless you all.
frank
(October 21, 2009)
Go to Part 15 >>
|
