Lessons From Job's Experience
By Mrs. Luella B. Priddy
The apostle James, speaking of some of the perilous conditions of the last days, exhorts the people of God to be patient. He says, “Ye have heard of the patience of Job.” James 5:11. Why does he refer to this most notable example of patience?—Because the remnant church is to be a tried church, and its people need the encouragement that comes from contemplating the lives of those who have won in the battle of life. Job was a righteous man, a man of property and influence. From a human point of view his lot seemed especially happy. Satan, always subtle and insinuating, would intimate that it was on account of this worldly prosperity that Job served God. He said: “Doth Job fear God for naught? Hast thou not made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” Job 1:9-11. Notice that Satan does not deny the statement that Job is a righteous man. With an air of apparent discernment, he pretends to look beyond the outward acts, and discover a motive which does not exist. No man could be good enough to escape the poisoned arrows of such an archer as that. This is the nature of the “accuser of the brethren.” How watchful we should be that this accusing spirit may not enter our hearts, and eat away the very vitals of our spirituality! God knew the faithful heart of Job, and he was not afraid to trust him to be tried. Failing to turn Job from his integrity by the destruction of his children and his property, the adversary was permitted to lay the hand of affliction upon him. Satan said, “All that a man hath, will he give for his life.” Job 2:4. This is not true. As dear a treasure as life is, the true child of God will suffer unto death, if need be, rather than surrender his righteous character, or compromise the interests of God's character. God allowed Job's character to be made manifest by permitting him to pass through the most trying experience of which the world has any record. Bereft of almost everything that mankind holds dear, suffering the most intense pain, he still maintained his faith in God. His wife, instead of being a comforter to him, became discouraged, and advised him to “curse God, and die.” Indeed, all human consolation was taken away. His friends, who came to comfort him, added to his trials by ill-advised words. But he affirmed, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in him,” thus proving the falsehood of Satan's accusation. The trials of Job brought him into a more intimate relationship with God. He said, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee.” Job 42:5. When Christ came to earth to die, it was made manifest that he is “kind to the unthankful and to the evil.” Luke 6:35. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Love is an unselfish attribute. It seeks not its own, but looks to the welfare of the object of its love. When the love of God is shed abroad in the hearts of men, it has the same unselfish nature. The welfare of the cause of God is their first concern. The furnace of trial makes manifest the genuineness of their love. When brought to the martyr's stake, or the headsman's ax, or, as is more often the case, when suffering from the numberless soul-torturing pin-pricks of daily life, the people of the world see that the Christian has a sustaining power that is unknown to them. Not only is the character of the Christian vindicated by this experience, but Christianity itself is vindicated. Trials, patiently and uncomplainingly borne, preach the message of salvation more powerfully than the most eloquent words. When the church passes through a time of unusual trial, she reaps a bountiful harvest of souls. In view of this fact, we can appreciate the feeling of the apostles when they rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” Acts 5:41.