What’s the Use? (Job 21:15)

What’s the Use?

“What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’ (Job 21:15 ESV)

This verse falls into a category that I mark in my Bible under “things sinners say.” The Bible, a holy and true book, records many of the lies that sinners tell others and themselves about what they think about themselves, and about God. In this case, they are, in essence, asking the question, “what in it for me?” It is a question that could be asked by sinners who are unsaved, but also sinners who have been saved by grace.

I do some painting on the side at times. Why? Well, the extra income helps. But I tell people that it’s good for a pastor to be able to do something where he can see progress. Progress and change can be difficult to detect at times in pastoral ministry (or parental ministry, or any ministry, for that matter). 

We should pray for progress and change as the Gospel grows in people’s lives. But this question, “What the use?”, can have more sinister tones. Sometimes we ask this question because we are not appreciated in the way that we expect for our efforts by the people we are serving. What’s the use of taking the time, expending the effort? Of course, the answer is not difficult. We serve for the pleasure of God. Except when we don’t Sometimes we fall to the low level of serving for the pleasure of me. And that prompts the sinner’s question, “What’s in it for me?”

Paul never interpreted opposition or persecution to be a signal that he should stop his efforts. In America, we have become so “kind” and “sensitive” that we dare not mention Christ if we think someone might be a bit offended. Paul was right and we are wrong in this. Related to the paragraph above, this is a case of caring more what people think than what God thinks. God has made clear the priority of sharing this Gospel that we have graciously received. What’s the use? Because in the face of persecution, the Gospel shines even brighter.

And finally, what’s in it for us? It’s the joy that comes from serving. It’s the meaning associated with doing something that will have eternal benefits (unlike painting). It’s the one thing that truly helps people at the deepest level. We can help people with physical therapy or diet advice, but serving and sharing Christ is of a whole different level of value and privilege. Let’s not stumble by saying the things sinners say, and asking “what the use?”. 

If a Man Dies, Shall He Live Again? (Job 14:14 ESV)

“If a Man Dies, Shall He Live Again?” (Job 14:14 ESV)

Certainly we understand the decline of individuals as they age. We also are sadly familiar with those whose decline comes early due to disease or disability. Job is experiencing this, and he wonders: is there anything that can reverse this decline? “If a man dies, can he live again?” I would like to apply it more broadly.

For the person who is beset by gloom and despondency, will the light ever shine through again? For the one who has made a mess of his life and experienced all manner of humiliation, is restoration actually possible? These powerful forces that drag us down as beaten prisoners - what power is there that can bring light and life, peace and joy? Or is this just the way it is going to be?

You’ve seen many people with the look on their faces, drawn and sad, that indicates they have no hope for a reversal in a better direction. It’s not everyone, and in certain communities that have many helps and success stories, they may be in the minority. But there are other places where the defeated demeanor is almost the rule, and a smiling face is the exception.

If you are one who struggles in a bright, shiny community, then you know how to put on a happy face. You keep the darkness to yourself, and you learn how to converse in ways that express hope and expectancy. But for you, the hope and expectancy do not rule when you are alone with yourself. Doubt and depression are your lonely companions.

I suspect happy people don’t get Job. But what those who understand him must also understand is this: God has plans for Job, and it is not continual defeat. God has a future for Job, and it is not ruled by his present experience. God’s grace, that powerful force that can reverse depression and doubt and even death is at work in the present, and will bring us to glory, perhaps slowly, in His time.

We can’t see plants grow. But we can see that they have grown. And we can’t see how God is working in our lives. But one day, we will see that He has worked, graciously. And the little plant that seemed destined for death will, at some point, flower. And because of God and His grace, that flower will be beautiful. Its fragrance will be sweet. “It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus. All trials will seem so small, when we see Christ. One look at His dear face, all sorrow will erase. So, bravely run the race, ’til we see Christ.”

Can you find out the deep things of God? (Job 11:7 ESV)

 “Can you find out the deep things of God?” (Job 11:7 ESV)

Zophar is the name of one of Job’s friends who comes to comfort him, or correct him, or disprove him - whatever it was that these three were trying to do. I’m not sure they know.

But’s that the point of this text. Who knows? Who really understands? Who gets to explain God? Who gets to speak for Him?

Zophar assumes that he is able, as we ourselves tend to do. We assume that we are in a position to critique the positions of others, to point out their errors, and to set them straight. Zophar is not worse than us. He is just like us.

We have lived out lives listening to space explorers tell us their findings. Telescopes improve, and we see farther, hoping to understand just a little bit more. Hypotheses are altered due to incoming information. We are not right about everything; what we think we know has to be corrected. All of this is true of physical matter in space and time. How much more things related to God, who is not just beyond our gaze, but outside and above the created order.

Consider our brains; our minds. They are created by God. He made us, including all our parts. And He is responsible for every one of us, however billion of us there now are. He knows our thoughts, every one of them, in every one of us. Billions of thoughts every moment made possible because He made us. He holds all these in His hand, as in a cup. They are small to Him. But His thoughts to us, so far above and beyond. “Can you find out the deep things of God?” No. Our brains are not big enough; our minds too small and simple.

We should be careful, then, what claims we make about God. At best, we can say confidently only what He has told us, and even then, these various things must be held together, not separately. He has said, “I am God, and there is no other.”He has said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” He has said, “Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever.” Yes, He has told us some things about Himself, a great many things. We can confidently say these things, at the right time, in the right context.

Now if we could just figure out the right time, the right way, the right tone to say these things. And to do so, we need Jesus’ help, and we need the Holy Spirit’s help. Because God is not defined by our words, but rather by His.

Shall we Receive Good from God, and Shall we not Receive Evil? (Job 2:10 ESV)

 “Shall we Receive Good from God, and Shall we not Receive Evil?” (Job 2:10 ESV)

You might remember that the introduction to the Book of Job involves two meetings between God and Satan. That’s troubling. Twice, God holds forth Job as an example of righteousness, and twice Satan says it is only because of God’s favor. So God says, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” And then the second time: “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.” Poor Job. No one wants to be designated as humanity’s study in devil-wrought suffering.

It’s too much, and Job’s wife kindly says, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity?”, as though it were doing him any good. “Curse God and die,” she lovingly advises. And perhaps it is meant as a mercy. But then Job replies to her: “You speak as one of the foolish women w0uld speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?

Finally, we read an evaluation of Job at this early stage: “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” We were wondering about that “foolish” reference above, but Scripture doesn’t hold it against him. At the same time, he gives us one of the Critical Questions of the Bible.

Notice that Job does not attribute his suffering to Satan, but to God. He may not have been privy to the heavenly conversation. Or, his theology is solid, and he knows that God is the sovereign One, not the devil. He knows that his life is lived in God’s hand, not in Satan’s. He knows that nothing can happen to him except as God allows. He knows that he can trust God, even if it hurts. He knows that he will continue to worship God, even if he does not understand. This should all be true of us as well.

Notice also that his view of God does not change whether he experiences good or evil; good times or bad. “Evil” in Hebrew is a broad word that can certainly mean “evil” as in “d-evil.” It can also mean “trouble.” God allows trouble. He confronts with calamity. He brings us to the end of ourselves. But He does not tempt or test us with evil (cf. James 1:13). 

If we love and worship God only when He sends good our way, then we are not worshipping Him as God, but rather as a kind of genie who exists to give us our wishes. If we reject God when life turns sour, then it shows that our hearts were sour to start with. You see, when an evil wind blows, it doesn’t reveal so much about God, as about you.