S118P2 – Loaded statements: Job

Job 1:20‭-‬21

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

He liked to talk a big game, and most of the time he could back it up.  His heart certainly was inclined toward the Lord, and he sincerely wanted to make God happy.  He appreciated all of the blessings he had and often stated that his love for the Lord would not waiver if fortunes changed and left him with nothing.  Then, the seams began to tear here and there.  He lost his job.  His relationship fell apart.  His money was spent.  The people he thought would be his support just disappeared.  He had lost a lot, but he definitely had more than nothing.  Life was thinning, and he had a choice to make.  He could cling to the remaining scraps or let them go and cling to God.

Job’s statement here is rather impactful because it recognizes that we really have nothing on our own.  From the moment of birth, we are dependent.  In recognizing that nothing is his, he could accept the fact that the Lord might give and then take away.  Yet, his act of tearing his garment and shaving his head shows that he is in mourning.  This is not a joyous offering of the great things and people he had lost but a sorrowful resignation that the loss could not be fought.  Job praised God after this great loss, but he still had his health and his wife.  Even with her anger at God and the lack of wise support from his friends, we cannot say that Job had nothing.

Job praised the Lord even after great loss, and we can read into his words that he would have accepted whatever God decided to take from him.  We can have that attitude and say those words, but we must consider whether we realize what it really means to have nothing.  The one who truly depends on God and God alone goes beyond just accepting that He may take things away from us.  That one is willing to give up treasures with joy.  Think of being left with no home, no food, no support, no clothing, no money, as naked and helpless as the moment of birth.  It is then that we must be able to still praise God and praise him with joy.  Even for the faithful, that would be a challenge.  Father, teach us what it means to rely on You fully as our all in all, to sever our attachments to every temporary thing.