There are more ways in which I fail to live like Job than there are similarities. But there is one path we both seem to have walked where I see his life reflected in mine and those of fellow Christian parents. Job doesn’t know for sure that his children are doing anything wrong, but he feels compelled to offer sacrifices to God on their behalf, just in case. Job’s family was the richest in the surrounding area and his wealthy offspring seem to have spent a considerable amount of time feasting, eating, and drinking (Job 1:4).
“And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ‘It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus Job did continually.”-Job 1:5
Job is concerned his seven sons and three daughters may have sinned against God. Here is where I personally feel close to Job. He is not certain of their behavior either way. Does the Bible say, “Job’s sons sinned by doing so and so.”? No. But is it a good idea to be feasting, eating and drinking for days on end? Also, no. Did Job wonder what was going on and feel the need to pray and sacrifice for potential sins to be cleansed? Yes. Is any of this ringing a bell for anyone else?
Job was worried about his children’s behavior at these feasts, but there are two other lessons here that need to be discussed. Notice, it was not the children of Job who offered sacrifices to God for forgiveness. It is Job who sent for his children to come attend this religious practice. Does this sound familiar? Are our children as interested in correct worship observance as our generation has been? As great as Job was, and his patience is well earned and well known, it appears his children did not practice the religion of their father.
We make the observation constantly that church coffee shops, live bands, day care, athletic training facilities, and pulpit teaching that requires no repentance, pull many people away from churches where worship reflects New Testament teaching. By definition, the people falling for unbiblical worship, teaching and practice are somebody’s children. We must lay a foundation of biblical authority for Christian faith, worship, and practice. Is there any guarantee that all the children in our congregations will follow our lead and refuse to add to or take away from the word of God concerning Christ’s church? Sadly no. Does that mean we give up hope and refuse to pray? Absolutely not.
In studying for this article, I ran across another similarity to Job for modern Christians. In his commentary on Job 1:5, Adam Clarke lists a potential meaning for the phrase, “cursed God in their hearts.” that points to another issue. What happens when adults lose their faith, or as Clarke interprets Job to say, “lest my children have bidden adieu to God, that is, renounced him, and cast off his fear1.” One of our sisters in the adult Bible class has mentioned how upsetting it is to watch, once faithful, Christians lose their faith once their parents die. Job was concerned his children may have denied God and fallen into idolatry. The phrase “cast off his fear” gets to the point. What happens if someone is a faithful service attender, but they have no true faith in God. Where there is no belief in a God who is Creator and Savior, how can there be true worship?
Job worried about his children committing sin at a feast (Galatians 5:19-21). Job seemed much more interested in practicing a religion that would lead to forgiveness of sins than his children (Acts 2:38; 22:16). What Job’s children needed was a living, personal faith (John 5:23-24). May God grant us a portion of Job’s patience as we pray for our children.
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