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Character of Job As Seen in Job 31
Character of Job As Seen in Job 31
"The Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?' " (Job 1:8).
How does one conduct himself so that God would say that about him? What does such a life look like?
I will summarize this from Job's words in chapter 31. As I write this I realize that the summary loses the impact and grandeur of Job's own words so I would encourage you to go back and read the original! I have also noted New Testament teaching that parallels this life style that Job lived.
Such an approved life is lived in awareness of the existence and discernment of God: He sees my ways and numbers all my steps? It is lived in integrity! (vs. 6). [Gal. 6:7]
Such integrity begins with honesty (vs. 5). This is not just the telling truth to others (which must be done), but the telling of truth to SELF; not deceiving self about self. (Eph. 4:25; 15; Col. 3:9).
It restrains its desires - (vs. 7 - 8). The heart is not to be controlled by 'the eyes' but by principle and character. [Col. 3:1-3]
Adultery and fornication are simply wrong (vs. 9-12). It avoids the situations that might produce such in life. [1 Cor. 6:12-20 ; Heb. 13:4]
It acknowledges the humanity of people, not using position as an excuse for being unjust. (13-15). God is the creator of all men. Master and slave both will answer to God for how they treat each other. [Eph. 6:9]
It uses possessions as a stewardship and is benevolent to those who are in need. (vs. 16-22, 31-32). [Eph. 4:28; 1Tim. 6:18]
As such, it is a life that eschews trust in gold and wealth (24-25) [1 Tim. 6:17]
It recognizes nature as the creation of God and not as something to be worshiped (vs. 26-28). [Romans 1:18-24]
It exercises mercy and kindness even to enemies (vs. 29-30) [Rom. 12:17-21]
It makes mistakes but freely confesses them instead of trying to cover them over in order to keep up appearances of righteousness. Thus it fears God above man (vs. 33-35). [1John 1:8-9; Acts 8:20-23]
Hugh DeLong
