Losing Everything

Losing Everything

(Job 1:1-22)

Yearly Theme:  “Peace is…”

Series Title:  “Peace Lost”

May 23^rd, 2021

Something to think about:

What motivates you, and what are your motives for doing the things you do?  Why do you believe (or not believe) what you believe?  What is the driving force behind your decisions, actions, and the choices you make?

There is a difference between pure motives and selfish motives, and today we will be exploring this through a man named Job in the Old Testament.  Let’s pick up the beginning of his story today…

Job 1:1-22 (NLT),

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. ² He had seven sons and three daughters. ³ He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.

⁴ Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. ⁵ When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

⁶ One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. ⁷ “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

⁸ Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

⁹ Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. ¹⁰ You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! ¹¹ But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

¹² “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So, Satan left the Lord’s presence.

¹³ One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, ¹⁵ when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

¹⁷ While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

¹⁸ While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. ¹⁹ Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

²⁰ Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. ²¹ He said,

“I came naked from my mother’s womb,

and I will be naked when I leave.

The Lord gave me what I had,

and the Lord has taken it away.

Praise the name of the Lord!”

²² In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. ^[1]

So, where do we go from here?  What can we learn from Job’s tragedy?

Key Point:  “Though we may lose everything, God’s peace can still reign in our hearts as we trust Him.”

Living a holy, righteous life following Christ doesn’t always benefit us in tangible ways in this life.  It does benefit us in spiritual and eternal ways, but not always tangible ways.  For instance, we may be one of the most spiritual, respectable, and upright people, and yet lose our jobs, our loved ones, our possessions.  Being a believer, and faithful follower of Christ, doesn’t exempt us from suffering in this life.

With that in mind, like Job, do we worship God when things are going well and when they’re not, or do we give up when bad things happen to us?  How do we keep our head above water when difficulties hit us broadside and leave us devastated?  How is it possible to trust God when we’ve done nothing wrong to incur the suffering we’re going through?  In order to answer these questions, we need to take a closer look at our passage for today.

• Our  for worshipping God cannot be  .

Job 1:8-11 (NLT), ⁸ Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

⁹ Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. ¹⁰ You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! ¹¹ But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

• Our  to the bad things that happen in life should not evoke  .

Job 1:20-21 (NLT), ²⁰ Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. ²¹ He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!”

• Our  to make sense of evil in this world (especially when it affects us directly) is by  in God completely.

Job 1:22 (NLT), In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

Something to take home:

In your relationship with Christ (or lack thereof), what is your motivation?  Are you motivated by what you can get out of it, or are you motivated by the sheer act of love and trust you have for Him?  When all else is gone, is Jesus enough?  The truth is, when all else is gone, Jesus is all we need.

Key Point:  “Though we may lose everything, God’s peace can still reign in our hearts as we trust Him.”

^[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Job 1:1–22). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.