Like so many of the rich and powerful, Job seems to have spent his share of time arguing before judges. Then after his life has been all but destroyed, he repeatedly complains there is no judge to hear his case. Why not? Because it is God whom he wishes to sue. “If one wanted toContinue reading “Courtroom Drama.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
Who Has Wisdom? Job 12:16-24.
Who is wise? To whom should a young person listen for advice? Whose opinion do people respect? Pastors? Deacons? Judges? Kings? Teachers? Lawyers? Doctors? Authors? Professors? Psychiatrists? A better question might be to whom does God attribute wisdom? Job, “the greatest man among all the peoples of the east,” was a man who was accustomedContinue reading “Who Has Wisdom? Job 12:16-24.”
The Most Amazing Worship Experience. Job 13:15.
Have you had an amazing worship experience? Were you alone in the mountains, or at a camp or retreat? Or in a quiet cathedral? Or perhaps an arena with spotlights, smoke machines, and thrilling music performed by rocking musicians? Job lost more than most of us will ever own. In a single day he lostContinue reading “The Most Amazing Worship Experience. Job 13:15.”
Can You File a Lawsuit and Drag God into Court?
Have you ever been mad at God? Job actually wants to file a lawsuit against God! “If one wanted to take Him to court, he could not answer God once in a thousand times. God is wise and all-powerful… I could only beg my Judge for mercy. If I summoned Him [to court] and HeContinue reading “Can You File a Lawsuit and Drag God into Court?”
Integrity Builds Courage & Wisdom.
Nothing builds COURAGE and WISDOM faster than integrity. Integrity builds courage because it requires people to do things they find frightening. Integrity builds wisdom because the good decisions it requires draw a person out of darkness and into the light. Both Job and his friends are men of integrity. (But only Job is a manContinue reading “Integrity Builds Courage & Wisdom.”
Good News! The Bible is Not All Good News. Job 5:7
Some Christians greatly dislike Ecclesiastes–preachers, included. I think they don’t understand it. Ecclesiastes is a gut-check. If you are optimistic, if every message you speak is “turn that frown upside-down,” you are missing the gut of the Bible. THE BIBLE IS FOR PEOPLE WITH PROBLEMS—REAL problems, that can’t be fixed by clichés and bumper-sticker theology.Continue reading “Good News! The Bible is Not All Good News. Job 5:7”
Job Had Great Friends. Job 2:12-13.
Are you a true friend? Do you have true friends? Proverbs 17:17 says, “A brother was made for adversity.” But sometimes a true friend is the one you can really rely on. Job had true friends. Yes, that’s right—Job. Everyone criticizes and mocks his friends. We judge them harshly because they saw all that JobContinue reading “Job Had Great Friends. Job 2:12-13.”
Perfect Integrity. Job 1:1.
“There was a man in the land of Uz named Job. He was a man of perfect integrity who feared God and turned away from evil.” Job 1:1. What is meant by “perfect integrity”? Integrity means “wholeness,” so perfect integrity means being whole—there are no empty places inside you, no bricks missing in your wall. Continue reading “Perfect Integrity. Job 1:1.”
Job: A Great Father. Job 1:5.
What do think of when you think of dads? A man tossing his baby in the air? A daddy-daughter dance? Little league? Learning to ride a bike, use tools, do chores? What about Biblical fatherhood? Joseph adopted Jesus as his own, Abraham took Isaac to the altar and put God first. Jacob moved to Egypt—withContinue reading “Job: A Great Father. Job 1:5.”
Do We Blame God When Bad Things Happen?
Job was the wealthiest man of his time, “the greatest man among all the people of the east.” He had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, and thousands of other animals, servants without number, and ten grown children he adored. Then in a single moment he lost it all—including his children. Did he blame God? Here’s theContinue reading “Do We Blame God When Bad Things Happen?”
Household Words: 