Tuesday: Heart and Eyes
At first glance, in the texts below, it could sound as if Job were bragging, as if Job were parading his holiness and virtue and good conduct before others. This attitude, of course, is precisely the kind that the Bible condemns (see Matthew 23). But that’s not what was happening here with Job.
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Again, it is crucial to remember the context: he’s being told that his past life, a life assumed to have been pretty evil, is the cause of his suffering. Job, meanwhile, knows that this simply cannot be true and that nothing he had done made him deserve what had come upon him. So, he spends this time recounting the kind of life he lived and the kind of person he was.
Read Job 31:1–23. What else does Job say about how he lived before the calamities?
Notice, too, that Job wasn’t dealing only with his outward actions. The text “ ‘my heart followed my eyes’ ” (Job 31:7, NASB) shows that Job understood the deeper meaning of holiness, the deeper meaning of right and wrong and of God’s law. Job apparently knew that God cares about the heart, about our thoughts, as well as our actions (see 1 Sam. 16:7, Exod. 20:17, Matt. 5:28). Job knew that it was wrong to lust after a woman and not just to commit adultery with her. (Again, what powerful evidence for the fact that knowledge of the true God had existed even before the Lord called the nation of Israel to be His covenant people and a witness of Him.)
Read what Job said in Job 31:13–15. Why is this message so crucial?
Here Job shows an amazing understanding, especially for his time (any time, really) about the basic equality of all human beings. The ancient world was not a place where concepts of universal rights and universal laws were understood or followed. People groups thought of themselves as greater than and superior to others, and at times thought nothing of denying basic dignity and rights to others. Here, though, Job shows just how much he understands about human rights and that these rights originate in the God who made us. In some ways, Job was ahead of not only his time but ours, as well.
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Job does not pretend about his integrity, he is transparent about his character and is willing to suffer the consequences of any misconduct which is inadvertent. The life that we live speaks to the state of our heart. Paul advises, "Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal 5:17). A Christian does not live in "darkness" and pretense! A Christian shines his light, people see the light and glorify God.
Amen
We are Christians, followers of Christ. As we look back over our lives can we speak with the same confidence to God, as Job did, as to how we have lived our lives so that we look like Christ. Having His character. For this is THE only thing we are leaving earth with.
This is a soul-searching lesson. This lesson compels us to take a look at ourselves from the inside out. There is a song based on scripture that says "search me Lord and if you find anything that shouldn't be take it out and cleanse me. For I want to be right, I want to be whole, I want to be free." Psalm 139.
This should be our daily prayer. For we do not want to have a form of godliness, but denying the transforming power thereof, like the Scribes and the Pharisees, who had Jesus right in their mist, and missed Him.
Job's claim to righteousness is based on the first chapter of the story...the offering of the lamb that he made for himself and his family. He understood what that meant and where his cleanliness of heart came from. It is the basis of Job's faith and the power he had to say he was pure. He truly understood and lived the covenant promises of God and as a result God declared Job righteous. It is supposed to be this way with us. The blood of Christ as the only atoning sacrifice for sin and the only claim to true purity and righteousness is often lost in theology, obedience, ceremony or tradition. I love that Job did not forget that, but in every blood sacrifice, he remembered the Savior and based his faith on Him and what He was going to do. His confidence was a result of trusting Jesus for his salvation and holiness.
I want to believe Job had learnt the science relations between the eye and the heart. Most oftenly,God speaks to us through our senses so does satan. Our sense of sight if you can remember well led to very first downfall of man in the garden of Eden. And Eve saw the fruit was pleasant to the eyes, she ate it.This tells
me that what we feed into our eyes has a
greater impact on our heart. The heart is
the seat of all emotions,what enters into it
is directly proportional to the character of
the bearer whether positive or negative.
Your thoughts your character (prov 23:7).
We are living in the 21st century characterised by fashion, Hollywood films, technology etc,all these have a grave impact on character development, I therefore, submit that we should guard the avenues of soul jealously lest Satan take control of of them. My question is what do you see,hear ,think and say? How more can we deal with the heart and eye problem?
respect is EARNED, that is what Job earned because of his care for everyone, we need to emulate the same lifestyle of respecting everyone in the community despite their status, whether one is rich, poor, lame....through being good to others the same goodness comes back to us and consequently we praise God through our works, I think that is what God is expecting from us
Job respected his fellow man, created in the Image of God. Job was not ahead of his time or our time, he simply knew God and through faith became righteous, which has always been offered to fallen man. Few desire this righteousness because it requires a meek and lowly heart toward all others and before God. Righteousness in this world is seen in a self-sacrificing spirit at all times, in all places, and toward all people.
I can't find a way to get the statement from the Ministry of Healing out of my head which says; "grace is an attribute of God, sent in search of us, not us in search of it. The only merit we have towards it is OUR GREAT NEED. It is because we are so utterly unworthy and needy that it seeks us......"
The only safety we have is to acknowledge our vulnerability coupled with what God has offered us, like the thieve on the cross. Just before the sky will open up to get us, we will all question which of us is worthy to be saved. But our savior will proclaim; " my grace is sufficient for thee." My prayer is that we always acknowledge our vulnerability, and self distrust coupled with our faith in our Savour to save till we leave this planet and like Job and Jacob lean heavy on what God promised us. May we ever say; " I will not let you go, less you bless me."
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Editor's Note: The exact quote is as follows:
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