“I made a covenant with my eyes
not to look with lust at a young woman.
2 For what has God above chosen for us?
What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high?
3 Isn’t it calamity for the wicked
and misfortune for those who do evil?
4 Doesn’t he see everything I do
and every step I take?
5 “Have I lied to anyone
or deceived anyone?
6 Let God weigh me on the scales of justice,
for he knows my integrity.
7 If I have strayed from his pathway,
or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen,
or if I am guilty of any other sin,
8 then let someone else eat the crops I have planted.
Let all that I have planted be uprooted."
Job certainly was a man of character. Every guy who breathes and calls Jesus' their Lord would do well to memorize and follow Job's example here in verse 1. This is the biggest challenge that I personally believe any male will face in his life. If he loses this battle, his life is going to be filled with many difficulties all along the way, and I don't wish those on anyone.
Verses 9-15:
9 “If my heart has been seduced by a woman,
or if I have lusted for my neighbor’s wife,10 then let my wife belong to another man;
let other men sleep with her.
11 For lust is a shameful sin,
a crime that should be punished.
12 It is a fire that burns all the way to hell.
It would wipe out everything I own.
13 “If I have been unfair to my male or female servants
when they brought their complaints to me,
14 how could I face God?
What could I say when he questioned me?
15 For God created both me and my servants.
He created us both in the womb."
Job certainly knew the potential of lust, the potential to harm a person that is. Verses 9-12 might be another good chunk of verses to memorize if you are a guy. Think about how severe Job sees lust as being. Even without a person physically action on his impulses and desires, the lusting alone, in Job's eyes, calls for extreme consequences.
Verses 16-25:
16 “Have I refused to help the poor,
or crushed the hopes of widows?17 Have I been stingy with my food
and refused to share it with orphans?
18 No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father,
and all my life I have cared for widows.
19 Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes
and the needy with nothing to wear,
20 did they not praise me
for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?
21 “If I raised my hand against an orphan,
knowing the judges would take my side,
22 then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place!
Let my arm be torn from its socket!
23 That would be better than facing God’s judgment.
For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?
24 “Have I put my trust in money
or felt secure because of my gold?
25 Have I gloated about my wealth
and all that I own?"
Taking care of the poor and less fortunate has always been something that is close to the heart of God. Job understood that. I think this is something that needs to be re-realized within the church today. Think about this the next time you see someone in need and have the means to help them out.
Verse 26-34:
26 “Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies,
or the moon walking down its silver pathway,27 and been secretly enticed in my heart
to throw kisses at them in worship?
28 If so, I should be punished by the judges,
for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.
29 “Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies,
or become excited when harm came their way?
30 No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone
or by asking for revenge.
31 “My servants have never said,
‘He let others go hungry.’
32 I have never turned away a stranger
but have opened my doors to everyone.
33 “Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do,
concealing my guilt in my heart?
34 Have I feared the crowd
or the contempt of the masses,
so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors?"
Verses 29-30 really serve as a conviction for me. There have been many times when I've thought and even prayed that God should do something about a person that I considered my enemy. It's kind of helpful to look at this from Job's perspective. I think it would help us become more like Jesus.
Verses 35-40:
35 “If only someone would listen to me!
Look, I will sign my name to my defense.Let the Almighty answer me.
Let my accuser write out the charges against me.
36 I would face the accusation proudly.
I would wear it like a crown.
37 For I would tell him exactly what I have done.
I would come before him like a prince.
38 “If my land accuses me
and all its furrows cry out together,
39 or if I have stolen its crops
or murdered its owners,
40 then let thistles grow on that land instead of wheat,
and weeds instead of barley.”
Job’s words are ended."
What a defense right? If Job were in court today, I feel like he would have a pretty good case going for him. I also find it funny that the chapter ends with the words, "Job's words are ended." Haha! =)
"Father in Heaven, I pray that You would mold us into men and women who live for You. Take away our fears and hesitations. May we be quick to love and slow to hate. May we be quick to help and slow to turn away from someone in need. I ask that each and every day, we would all become more like Your Son and would be aware of the situations You put us in to share Jesus. I pray all of this in Jesus' name, amen."
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