Job – Prepared for the Future

Read: Job 1

Job 1:9, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.

 If ever there was a man prepared for the future it was Job. The first few verses indicated he had everything he needed. In today’s terms, he had every base covered just in case anything untoward should happen.

Today, we are told to prepare for the future both financially and physically. We are told we need ‘XXX’ amount of dollars in the bank or super fund or else it’s over. If we are not at a certain fitness level for our age, then we are toast. The level of unattainable preparedness keeps going higher and higher. Those who do get to that magic level then have to agonize about staying there.

There are some who believe the only way to prepare for the future is to stockpile lots of food, clothing, bugout location (somewhere underground, above ground, in a tree or on a boat where you can run and hide, or stand and defend) because of the impending “doomsday.”  The funny thing about “doomsday preppers” is that they prepare for their own scenario, i.e. solar flare, financial meltdown, nuclear war, etc.  The problem is, if they are prepared for one scenario and another one occurs, they are in a heap of trouble anyway.

No matter what scenario, Job was ready. He had everything he needed. Even respectful friends. Until one day – he lost it all. When you think about what Job lost (family, riches, “friends,” admiration in the community) you realise they are all of the things we crave.  How does one have any future vision with losses like that?

Satan’s question is very revealing, “Does Job fear God for nothing?”  Satan’s attempt to have a go at Job backfired, because in losing it all Job revealed his real preparedness for the future.

Job’s preparedness for the future relied upon God. This is seen in Job 19:25, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: …”

 When we compare Job’s response to another rich man in the book of Luke, we see a different response: Luke 18:22-23, “… he (Jesus) said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.”

 One, through sorrow, became rich and one who was rich became sorrowful. Riches and material things do bring pleasure and a certain amount of security, temporal as it is, but they do not assure us of a safe tomorrow. Only Jesus can do that.

John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Pastor Dan