A Godly Life (Job 31)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+31
What struck me in this final chapter of Job’s argument is the description Job provides of the godly life. He goes through a list of actions that would warrant punishment if he were guilty of them. He is implicitly stating that he has not done these things, so he is not deserving of the punishments listed.
What does this list include?
- Viewing someone with lust
- Engaging in dishonest business practices
- Desiring or committing adultery
- Treating employees unfairly or unjustly
- Failing to provide for the poor
- Failing to care for widows and orphans
- Trusting in wealth
- Worshiping false gods
- Cursing enemies and gloating over their misfortune
- Failing to welcome and serve strangers
Instead, Job promotes a picture of the godly life in which we are to view people with respect and dignity, conduct all our interactions with honesty and integrity, honor faithfulness in marriage, pursue justice for all people regardless of their social standing, live generously toward those in need, worship and trust in God alone, serve and support even those who oppose us, and welcome and show hospitality to all.
It struck me how similar some of these are to the code of life that Jesus calls for in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). It also struck me how relevant and contemporary this “code of conduct” is.
And then it struck me that I fall short of this standard. A lot. So I would hesitate to make Job’s words my own, lest I call down punishments on myself. Instead I am thankful for the Lord’s forgiveness, and His power through His Word to seek to follow Him anew this day.
So my prayer is first one of thankfulness for forgiveness. But also for the Spirit’s power and leading so that my life conforms more and more to that of Christ.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
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