9 January 2024
Reading from Job 21-23
“Why do the wicked live on,
growing old and increasing in power?
Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!
We have no desire to know your ways.
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
What would we gain by praying to him?’
But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.” –Job 21:7, 14-16
Zophar postulated that people who do evil do not prosper, but Job refutes this by showing example after example in verses 8-13 of how many wicked people enjoy material wealth. People in general seem to think that they have more control over their lives than they really do. Yes, we have free will to make decisions that have real life impacts on the world around us, and we reap what we sow, but there are countless forces outside ourselves that are beyond our power to manage. Some people who follow Jesus don’t have much money and some do. The very same goes for those who don’t even believe in God.[1] What is needed is a godly perspective on measures of wealth and success. God sees these as matters of the heart, which goes far deeper than outward appearances, performance, money or possessions. There’s more to life than what we see. It is vital to follow His wisdom.
Job’s friends see outward signs of success as indicators that a person is following God. But this cannot be since there are atheists who are monetarily wealthy and at times fast cars, fancy cars, diamonds and mansions form a façade hiding spiritual poverty. This leads my mind to the question, “What does this abundant life that Jesus provide to His eternal family members look like?” I Timothy 6:17-19 gives us some insight. Paul tells Timothy to, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” I love the phrase, “the life that is truly life.”
Trusting in Jesus leads to real living in the deepest sense. Money is fleeting, but eternal reward is forever. Wealth is not something to put our trust in, but provision and spiritual blessing is guaranteed by God when we obey Him. From this passage in I Timothy, we find that He values good deeds, generosity and a willingness to share. We also see that we are to put our hope in Him, not earthly treasure, and that He will provide everything we need. Fascinating that doing good and honoring God with money forms “a firm foundation for the coming age.” This seems to indicate that stewardship and helping others prepares us for our destiny in the New Heaven and the New Earth. I wonder what will be built in the coming age that requires a foundation of spiritual treasure?
Having an eternal perspective makes all the difference regarding our contentment and satisfaction. Psalms 37:16-17 says, “Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.” This is taking the long view of the destiny of the godly versus the ungodly. As the saying goes, I’ve never seen a moving trailer on the back of a hearse. However little or much we have, it is profitable to glean the wisdom found in Deuteronomy 8:17-18, “You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” The consequence of not acknowledging God as the source is destruction. Conversely, if I trust in the Lord with all my heart, don’t lean on my own understanding but rather acknowledge Him, He will make my paths straight.[2] This goes deeper than cash. If it is God who gives His people the ability to produce wealth, then it must not be evil in and of itself, but rather what people do with it.[3] It is not money that is root of all evil, but the love of money.[4] In Jesus we have been given all spiritual blessings in the heavenly realms.[5] In Him, we are rich!
“God, help me to see past the trappings of wealth and poverty to love people as You love them. Change my perspective on what constitutes riches and blessings. Thank You for making me part of Your eternal family, for my earthly family, friends, the clothes on my back, the food in my belly and the roof over my head. Help me to be truly grateful for both material and spiritual blessings and grant me wisdom to be a wise and generous steward. Amen.”
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” –I Samuel 16:7
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. –II Corinthians 8:9
[1] Matthew 5:45
[2] Paraphrase of Proverbs 3:5-6
[3] Proverbs 3:9
[4] I Timothy 6:10
[5] Ephesians 1:3
Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God 
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