Job 1:22
“In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”
The verse above is quite the statement about a man coming from the mouth of God. This statement didn’t come from someone trying to impress others of their spirituality. This statement didn’t come from someone who was bragging about an admired person. This statement came from a God Who knows everything about everyone.
There is something else about this statement that makes it so powerful. This statement came after Job experienced four great tests that the average person would have failed had they faced only one of the tests. After facing all four of these tests of life, God still held Job in high regards. In fact, God said about Job, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.” (Job 2:3) Your desire should be that God would say the same thing about you if you faced these same tests. Everyone will face at least one of these four tests, and you should desire to come through them with the same attitude that Job had.
The first test is how you respond when others take what is rightfully yours. When the Sabeans came and took Job’s oxen, he still would not say anything foolish about God. Do you get upset when you see others take a position from you that you felt you’ve earned? There are going to be many times in life when you will be hurt by others, but in those times you must continue to do right and keep your Christian testimony.
The second test is how you respond when tragedy hits and takes your possessions. In verse 16, tragedy struck and took Job’s sheep and servants, yet he did not let that sway his Christian testimony. Many Christians have become bitter when tragedy hit and took everything they had. You must watch your spirit during times of tragedy so you don’t say or do things that you will later regret.
The third test is how you respond when others attack you. In verse 17, the Chaldeans came with the sword and took Job’s camels and remaining servants, yet he still retained his integrity. If you serve God for any length of time, you are going to be attacked. In those times, you must never let the sword of the enemy change your approach to serving the LORD. It will be hard to respond right when others attack, but you cannot let their actions influence your actions. You must act right in spite of their attacks and criticisms.
The fourth test is how you respond when death unexpectedly takes a loved one. Job lost all ten of his children, yet he did not allow grief to mar his testimony. This is a tough one to go through, but you must hold onto the grace of God and allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you and keep you from getting bitter at God. In times like these, you may not understand what God is doing, but you must trust His providence.
The truest test to your Christianity is if you can respond as Job did in verse 21. This is why God had such a high estimation of him because “In all this…” Job didn’t sin or accuse God of being unfair. Friend, be careful in the tragedies of life that you don’t say or do things that you will regret later. Trust God’s providence and do right, and you will pass God’s test of life.