Steven Wales

Boss.

JOB was a boss. He owned fantastic wealth. The Bible calls him “the greatest man among all the peoples of the East” 1:3. He understood lawsuits; he knew how to secure justice. When young men saw him they backed away, older men stood, city officials and noblemen stopped talking. “Men listened to me with expectation,Continue reading “Boss.”

God Will Rescue You–But Not Always in the Way You Might Have Hoped.

A friend turned his back on God thirty years ago. Today he is suffering a terminal illness. Another friend is convinced God may be using the illness to reach Doug, to bless him, in fact. What do you think of that? Can God “Bless you” with a disease that kills you? Can a terminal illnessContinue reading “God Will Rescue You–But Not Always in the Way You Might Have Hoped.”

How Does God Speak to You?

Job’s friend Elihu makes an interesting comment about the way God speaks to people. God later rebuked Job’s friends for speaking wrongly about God, but there is some question whether that rebuke applies to Elihu. I no longer exempt him; I believe he too failed and was rebuked. Nevertheless, his statement about dreams is interesting:Continue reading “How Does God Speak to You?”

Motormouth.

I was proud of my childhood nickname. My mouth WAS a motor, running uninterrupted, 16 hours a day. My dad would say, “Steven, you’re a good kid. But your mouth is going to get you into a lot of trouble.” He was right. The Bible says it too: “When there are many words, sin isContinue reading “Motormouth.”

Hold Your Tongue.

Have you ever had something you were BURSTING to say? It happens during deep conversations with friends, or perhaps during a Bible study when something suddenly makes sense and you just HAVE to share. Job’s friend Elihu knew that feeling: “I am full of words, and my spirit compels me to speak. My heart isContinue reading “Hold Your Tongue.”

Can You Control Your Eyes?

Yes. You can. Some people act like it is not possible. But of course, that is ridiculous. You can make good decisions. Job says he made a covenant with his eyes. That’s like a contract. He negotiated a contract or signed a deal with his OWN EYES. “I have made a covenant with my eyesContinue reading “Can You Control Your Eyes?”

Write it Down. Job 31:1-2.

Even after all Job had been through, he proclaimed his innocence. After losing everything—possessions, animals, servants, children, health—he says he is pure. “Let God weigh me in accurate scales, and He will recognize my integrity” Job 31:6. That’s a bold statement for a man who just endured one of history’s most severe smackdowns. Shouldn’t JobContinue reading “Write it Down. Job 31:1-2.”

Is Anything More Valuable Than Wisdom?

Would you trade wisdom for a million dollars? Would you surrender all your wisdom for 30 million dollars? Is it worth it? Job, once rich, now poor, says NO: “A miner puts an end to the darkness. He probes the deepest recesses for ore in the gloomy darkness. He cuts a shaft far from humanContinue reading “Is Anything More Valuable Than Wisdom?”

How Can I Get Rich Quick?

Proverbs says wisdom is more valuable than GOLD (16:16), more profitable than SILVER (8:18), and even worth more than RUBIES (3:15). Job says wisdom is worth more than GOLD, CRYSTAL, JEWELS, CORAL, and JASPER (28:17-18). So where can you get this item of supreme value? “There is a mine for silver and a place whereContinue reading “How Can I Get Rich Quick?”

He is Not Safe. But He is Good. Job 23:15.

C.S. Lewis hid brilliant insights in children’s tales, as when the character of Aslan is first introduced by Mr. Beaver– “It’s no good, Son of Adam… But now that Aslan is on the move—” “Oh, yes! Tell us about Aslan!” said several voices at once, for once again that strange feeling—like the first signs ofContinue reading “He is Not Safe. But He is Good. Job 23:15.”