Job is famous for his plight of suffering. He is the case study for human tragedy. The adage, “the suffering of Job” rings in the minds of both Bible scholars and those who never even opened a Bible.
The ancient text tells us that Job was a successful and wealthy man. In a matter of minutes, he lost all of his wealth to bandits and natural disasters. In addition to these calamities all of his children died in a freak storm. The building that they were in for a celebration collapsed on top of them.
Anguish was Job’s reaction. He mourned for the loss of his family. The evaporation of his wealth served as an exclamation point of his plight.
What was unusual about Job was that he did not sin by blaming God. That common response by most of us was foreign to Job. He did not direct his anger toward God. The faith of this man was astounding.
Suffering is defined by Job’s experience. His pain doesn’t climax with these losses. There is more.
His body is broke out with open sores. They plagued him from head to foot. Agony was nearly at its height.
In addition to his personal losses of cataclysmic proportions, Job’s wife failed to support him. She exasperated his anguish with a nagging critical spirit. Losing her comfort and personal support must have been discouraging for Job. She urged him to curse God and die. Job would have nothing to do with that option.
Ultimately, Job’s suffering did come to an end. God also blessed him with twice what he had before the trials rained on his life. He lived long and had a full life.
James uses the example of Job to instruct all believers who are in pursuit of righteousness. The one word that describes Job’s reaction to life’s trials is perseverance. It is that phenomenal example that James describes as our pattern for staying the course, never giving up, and keeping faithful in our trust of God.
When we lose everything, those we trust turn against us, and our health fails us there is still reason not to sin in what we say. Careless words reveal a heart that has given up. It accomplishes nothing that is righteous. If you are having a tough time, remember the example of Job and persevere in your faith in God.
James 5.10-11
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