Acting Jealous

Job 4: ⁷ “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?
    Where were the upright ever destroyed?
⁸ As I have observed, those who plow evil
    and those who sow trouble reap it.
⁹ At the breath of God they perish;
    at the blast of his anger they are no more.

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Award time really showed how pitiful I was. If I didn’t receive the award I pouted, questioned and ranted about how good I was. One time “this snake of a guy” received an award and got promoted! I went in and expressed my disillusionment and suddenly I was being looked at funny, like “I” was the problem. I mean, he was the jerk, right? Wrong!

• Sometimes jealousy blinds me.
• Sometimes jealousy makes me look at people the wrong way.
• Sometimes jealousy sets a false expectation that makes me more entitled than I am.

Political environments are very difficult to work in. I mean it’s standard practice to get passed over even when many people around me said I was one of the best. Some of these statements went to my head and I was filled with rage. BUT GOD wants me to think different.

• GOD wants me to know HE will tear me down or raise me up in HIS time.
• GOD wants me to know the battle is not mine rather it is HE who has placed me where I am.
• GOD wants me to know HIS plan for me is perfect and the sneaky people are already accounted for.

“Judge, jury and executioner” thinking had to be disposed of when dealing with GOD. HE is well aware of those who steal ideas, cheat on expenses and short cut their work to get ahead. GOD wants me to do my work for HIM rather than doing it for humans, this way I cannot be jealous. I’m not saying stay in a place that oppresses people or harms them, but I am saying jealousy is not something GOD enjoys from me.

• Are you jealous of those who seem to have it easy?
• Do you say “Look at that person squandering their life with millions of dollars?”
• Can you stop talking about “that” person and start speaking about GOD?
• Will you take a moment to focus on what GOD wants you to do rather than being jealous about another person?

Asking Why

Job 3: Why is life given to a man
    whose way is hidden,
    whom God has hedged in?

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After bargaining with GOD and blaming HIM, my thoughts went to questioning HIM as Job did in this passage. “Why” was the beginning of my question each time I went through something. Then I would add an extra helping of “Why” when I would compare my life to someone else’s.

• When I have gone through trouble I have asked “Why?” and received no answer.
• When I have gone through problems I have asked “Why?” and did not receive a sound.
• When I have gone through issues I have asked “Why?” and hear nothing.

“Why” is a question of clarity but it can also carry a tone of entitlement as if I could change GOD’s mind by making HIM reason HIS way into thinking like me. Does GOD owe me an explanation?

• GOD does not owe me an explanation because HE has already shown HIS maximum love by dying for me.
• GOD does not owe me an explanation because HE has already forgiven me.
• GOD does not owe me an explanation because HE has a plan for me that is HIS perfect will.

Sometimes I forget that GOD is supreme. I think HE can and should change HIS mind to think like me. I squirm and wiggle and HE stays steady. I then realize the struggle against HIS will is futile. The better question is “What” instead of “Why”. “What would YOU like me to do today?” “What is YOUR will and can you help me align to it today?”

Asking GOD “What” helps me accept the fact that Satan wants to thwart GOD’s plan. It makes me get up off the ground and fight another day. “Why” points to the past, “What” points to the here and now.

• Are you going through something?
• Have you been facing this problem very long?
• Can you stop feeling sorry for yourself by stopping your “why” question?
• Will you gain your life back by asking GOD “What” for a change?
• Will you receive HIS glorious power by being led by HIM today?

On the Edge of Cursing GOD

Job 2: ⁷ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. ⁸ Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

⁹ His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

¹⁰ He replied, “You are talking like a foolish^[b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

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“I’m not going to serve YOU anymore” I said to GOD in a curt fashion. It was the first job I had been passed over for and I really wanted it. I was only eighteen months out of college and one of my friends recommended that I try the executive track. When I did not get the position I threw a tantrum. I mean what good is this GOD stuff anyway if I don’t get my way?

• When I don’t get my way I am ready to give up on GOD.
• When I don’t get my way I am ready to tell GOD to go somewhere else.
• When I don’t get my way I am ready to blame GOD because “I” think HE has the power to give me “my” way but simply refuses to.

Looking back on many situations I see how patient GOD was with me. HE saw the immature baby within me and held on tight anyway. After being passed over for this position, I was passed over for many others at different companies. This made me stronger and wiser. It also taught me to look at GOD and not the positions.

• GOD wants me to continue to praise HIM in the middle of trouble.
• GOD wants me to expect trouble and when I get some, expect more trouble and continue to praise HIM.
• GOD wants me to seek HIM in all that I aspire to do so I can depend on HIM and mature.

Growing up is a difficult thing to do, BUT GOD wants me to mature in HIS ways. This may mean taking on a little more trouble so I can praise HIM through it. People around me may not understand. They may even question my faith, BUT GOD continues to guide me towards growth in HIM.

• Are you pouting at GOD?
• Do you have complaints on your lips?
• Will you focus your words on praise instead of problems?
• Can you seek maturity in GOD and expect problems in life rather than only expecting comfort?
• Can you understand that GOD loves you dearly and has warned you that life will have trouble?

A Very Bad Day

Job 1: ¹³ One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁸ While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

²⁰ At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship ²¹ and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”

²² In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

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I have had some bad days, but not nearly as bad as the one Job had where in a moment his entire life was turned upside down. They say “Trouble comes in threes” meaning if you are having trouble, just wait, more trouble is around the corner so get ready.

I pondered, why did GOD allow Job to have his stuff taken and his people killed? Then I noticed something interesting.

• My sinful view of life makes me think “my stuff” is “my stuff.”
• My sinful view of life makes me think people around me should never be hurt or scathed.
• My sinful view of life makes me think GOD is to blame when things go wrong.

I also noticed Job did not ask “why” in this passage. Well, not yet. Job probably did not feel like praising GOD, yet he was obedient to the task. He knew that GOD is the only refuge rather than the center of blame.

Praise GOD for all HE has done!

• Are you blaming GOD?
• Are you mad that you are not getting your way?
• Can you see that GOD has a wonderful plan for you if you would just hold that complaint back?
• Will you seek to praise GOD during your trial?

Who Am I Working For?

Esther 10: ³ Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.

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Shrimp chips was the appetizer at this exclusive five star restaurant that I enjoyed. It was something I had to try said the concierge at the five star hotel I stayed at. After this fancy upscale vacation my only concern was getting ramped back up after my twelve week paid vacation. I mean will I be able to get back up to the pace? Meanwhile, I never once thought about struggling people.

• When I’m blind I cannot see hurting people.
• When I’m blind I cannot seek lost people.
• When I’m blind I cannot empathize with those who are in need.

The “pace” is the thing that kept me from seeing people. I never knew my neighbors, had shallow relations with people at church and those I served were only there for a short period of time so I could get back to my rat race. I became a voice for the rich and powerful, helping them fix their complaints of not being wealthy enough. Is this where I’m supposed to spend my precious time?

• GOD says to me “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few” and I see why when there is money to be made.
• GOD says to me “It is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than a camel to go through the eye of a needle” and I see why when wealth caused me to have blindness.
• GOD says to me “Seek first the kingdom of GOD and all these things will be added to you” and I see why when HE is concerned with the well-being of all.

Wealth is not my problem, it is the love of being wealthy that fogs my spectacles. My conversations about fine wines, humidors and exclusive resorts were not words where I was speaking up for the needy. In fact those words barely came across my lips. GOD raised me up to be a spokesperson for HIS people who are hurting. HE wants me to take the blinders off and work hard for those who HE delivers to me.

• Are you a voice for those in need?
• Do you cater to the rich and powerful without mentioning people in need?
• Can you start speaking up for those in need for a change?
• Will you look at giving differently and see if GOD wants you to give more if you are wealthy?

Remember to Celebrate

Esther 9: ²⁸ These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.

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After that catastrophic year, I was numb. I went to class then work then home to finish studying. This was my fifth year and I was ready to be out of college. Life had resumed after my trial and I went into another year, not really noticing things had changed for the better. I wonder if I should have celebrated.

• Life had some very difficult moments for me.
• Life does not always go as planned for me.
• Life had some twists and turns that seemed to throw me for a loop.

I did not celebrate after my trial because I was not paying attention. I was just floating through life and wanted to move onto the next thing. As far as I was concerned nothing special had happened. BUT GOD wants me to think different.

• GOD wants me to celebrate after I go through a trial so I can remember HIS deliverance.
• GOD wants me to take notice when I go through my trouble so I can shout about HIM.
• GOD wants me to remember how I was before and after the trouble so I can praise HIM.

Trials and tribulations are always going to be here. GOD knew this when HE cursed the Earth, heavens and  mankind. HE knew humans would get sick, hurt and die. HE knew sin would enter humanity and “I” would turn my back on HIM along with everyone else.

Yet HE chose to have compassion on me. JESUS thought being GOD was nothing to gain so HE became a human, took my punishment that HE decreed with the FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT and proved HIS power by being raised from the dead. HE overcame all trials and wants me to remember HIM as often as possible.

• Did you just come out of a trial?
• Are you going to celebrate what GOD did for you?
• If you are still going through something can you celebrate the little accomplishments?
• Will you remember to set up a time to remember?

A Sense of Urgency

Esther 8: ⁵ “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. ⁶ For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”

⁷ King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. ⁸ Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”

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¹⁰ Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king.

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“You’d better get busy calling people” one of my friends at work told me. This was going to be one of the worst reorganizations the company would face. It was Friday and I urgently called my network and one person said “We need you out in the West Coast Monday.” I had hours to decide whether or not to pick up and move my entire life, family and all to a new place.

• Sometimes life comes at me very fast.
• Sometimes things change for me in a moment.
• Sometimes a fire gets lit and I have to do something about it immediately.

“Why me” can’t even be uttered when life happens. The smoke clears and suddenly I am in a new chapter of this journey, confused and bewildered. How should I act when change is thrust upon me?

• GOD says to me “I will be with you always even unto the end of this age.”
• GOD says to me “No man can pluck you out of my hand.”
• GOD says to me “My grace is sufficient.”

When things happen quickly, my mind starts racing with plans and steps toward action. BUT GOD wants me to stop for a moment and communicate with HIM. HE desires that I act with a sense of urgency in helping people stay on HIS path and remain encouraged. In every emergence HE wants me to bring HIM along with me.

• Has life happened to you?
• Did some emergency change your life quickly?
• Can you stop for a moment to ask GOD to enter into your plans?
• Will you start acting with a sense of urgency to reach the people GOD wants you to speak with?