A Note From Rob ...
Week of October 11, 2009
Why. The word is often a question but can also be an indictment. The scientist asks, “Why” and a cure
for a disease is sought. A friend can ask, “Why” and the jury has pronounced the person's guilt over a betrayal.
I think our lesson from Job has both of these qualities in the question, “Why?!”
Job tells us a story of one who is blessed with all the good things life has to offer. According to the
prevailing wisdom of the day, he deserved the good things because he was good. The theological understanding of
the day was good get good and the bad get bad. End of story.
This conclusion was not drawn from thin air. Scripture tells of God’s promise to the people of God as
they entered the Promised Land. Do good, be faithful to God and be blessed. Do badly and be unfaithful to God
and be cursed. End of story. It was easy to keep score. Everyone could look at life, lifestyle, health and wealth
and know the measure of an individual’s fidelity to God. The big house on the hill meant one was in good
standing with God. The single wide in the trailer park told a different story.
Job lived in the big house on the hill so all concluded he and God were tight, buds, bff, on the same page.
But when bad things started happening to Job then the jury came back with a different verdict. Job must be a
sinner, not a friend to and with God.
Not much has changed. Society and well-meaning Christians often use the same logic when deciding
about folks. Those who do the right things are better off in this world than those who do not. Yet, we know that
often the blessings of wealth, health and the trappings of this world come to those who seem to have no regard for
God or anyone else. And some who live holy and moral lives seem to stay on the last rung of the worldly
possession ladder.
This Sunday we will look at Job and maybe take a look at the world and ourselves at the same time. I
hope you will join us. We will be blessed as we gather together.
RETURN
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