Job 11:17 Life will be brighter than noonday,
    and darkness will become like morning.

I somewhat regret including this passage in the Scripture readings, because it is nothing but platitudes. That’s the tricky thing about reading Job: you have to be careful who is saying what, because Job’s three friends were not speaking out of a genuine relationship with their Creator. This verse sounds like something a modern “Prosperity Gospel” preacher might say. Whereas it is true that God is more than gracious and He delights to bless us, that’s no guarantee we will have an easy life. Jesus went so far as to say definitively, “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) The Good News isn’t that this life will be easy street, it’s that we will be able to make it through whatever the world and the devil throw at us, and, as Paul said, “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”(2 Corinthians 4:17) In fact, James went so far as to say, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4) That is spiritual prosperity, not material. An excellent modern example is Taylor Swift. She is incredibly wealthy, but by her own public statement, she has had 14 lovers, no husband, and no children. Her songs, that have made her so much money, are all about her bad choices in life! That is actually very pathetic. As has been said many times, God is more interested in our character than our comfort. He knows what is best for us, what will help us let go of our wrong attitudes and values, if we are paying attention, and will guide us into the relationship with Him for which we were created. Zophar, the speaker in today’s passage, had no real grasp of that, so all he could offer Job was empty platitudes.

I don’t feel like I have suffered particularly, to the point that I sometimes worry about whether I am sufficiently true to Christ! In thinking about it, though, I think it’s more a matter of my knowing enough about Christ to put things into perspective, so that my troubles don’t seem so severe. After all, just before telling us that we would have troubles, Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.” (John 16:33) When I am resting in Christ, my troubles seem insignificant. After all, the Lord told me personally to rest, relax, and rejoice! I am not to chase this world’s riches of any kind, but rather, as again Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) Most of the people around me don’t have that value system. I’m not to look down on them or feel superior, but rather speak the truth to them in love, so that they too may discover the true riches, peace, and joy that are in Christ alone.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me be ever more effective in sharing the Good News of Your kingdom, so that more and more people may repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!