The “JOB” Assumption
I’ll be honest with you. It’s the beginning of 2024, and I have no great ideas about what to write. With that being the case, I’ll just share some of the thoughts I’ve had while reading through the Bible this year.
If you’ve been reading this blog, you know I am following The Bible Recap reading plan and podcast. TBR follows a chronological order of scripture, and recently we read through the book of Job. This book is often used as a study in godly suffering, faithfulness, or patience, but what I have particularly focused on was how our attempts to simplify our understanding of a complex God could have some undesired results.
THE ”JOB” ASSUMPTION
The book of Job presents us with a man who is suffering greatly. His family has all perished. He’s lost his fields, livestock, and livelihood. His physical health is deteriorating, and his body is covered in sores. In the midst of this suffering, Job is visited by several friends who are more than eager to offer solutions to his problem. They insist that a righteous God blesses those who live a life that honors Him and punishes those who practice deceit and wickedness. Job’s suffering must be evidence of his rebellion from God. If he simply repents and changes his life, God will look favorably on him and restore his health and wealth.
The problem with Job’s friend’s advice, however, is that it is based on an incorrect assumption. The very first thing we learn in the first chapter of “Job” is that Job was blameless and upright, was in awe of God, and avoided evil. Furthermore, we read that it is because his faithfulness and reverence was so great that God was willing to allow the calamity without concern that it would cause Job to turn away and forsake Him. It is clear: Job’s suffering is not the result of any evil that he had done. The afflicted man vehemently explains this to his accusers, but they only take this as a denial of what they believe must be the truth. Fortunately, in the end, God affirms Job’s assertions of faith and rebukes his friend’s misinterpretation of the situation.
I think it is fair to say that we tend to look at many situations the same way Job’s friends did. When someone’s life falls apart, we want to know what they did wrong to deserve it. Is Jim experiencing financial difficulties because he was greedy in his spending or slothful in his work? Did Sally’s husband divorce her because she was unfaithful or not being the wife scripture tells her to be? Did Mitch get cancer because he lived an unhealthy or sinful lifestyle?
I suspect it’s easy to come to the same incorrect assumptions as the friends in the book of Job (which I refer to as “Job’s” Assumption) for a couple of reasons. The first reason is an attempt to find a logical answer. We want to know why something is happening or what caused it. A simple belief that “X” is happening because someone did “Y” satisfies that. The second reason is control. We believe that knowing what needs to be done to avoid or correct a situation gives us the ability to control our world. Job reminds us, however, that it is really God who is ultimately in control.
Beside the possibility of misunderstanding suffering, the “Job” Assumption can lead to individual discouragement, foster misunderstandings about the Gospel, or create a barrier for unbelievers.
DISCOURAGEMENT
My wife really dislikes it when I try to fix her life situations. When she shares with me any problems or difficulties she is having, whether it is with work, people, or daily life, I often try to “help” by suggesting steps she might take to correct the problem and avoid it in the future. She follows that up with all the reasons why my suggestions will not work or cause more problems, which then prompts me to offer different advice. Finally, she just said, “I’m not asking you to fix it. I just want you to listen and offer comfort.”
This is clearly modeled in the book of Job. Job’s three friends began their visit just sitting with him for a week, offering sympathy and comfort. They said nothing except to weep and mourn with him. During this time, all went as well as it could and no one complained.
But then they spoke and everything changed. They offered solutions that weren’t appropriate to Job’s suffering and would not work. Instead of helping Job, their words and dismissal of his defense sent him into an even greater depression.
Yes, there are times we can point someone to a specific reason for their trouble and suffering. Also, someone might specifically ask for our advice because we have experience or insight into what they are going through. In those instances our opinions might be beneficial. Otherwise, the reason for their suffering is often either too complex to understand or not fully known. Then it’s best that we keep our opinions to ourselves and just offer comfort. If not, when our fixes don’t work the way we claim, the person we are trying to help may grow more discouraged, wondering exactly what they did wrong when the real reason may be unrelated to any action they took.
IMPROPER GOSPEL
Another problem with the “Job” Assumption is that it has the potential to model an improper gospel. In this gospel, one does good works to receive blessings and acceptance from God. Conversely, bad works result in God’s anger and disassociation. Ultimately, it is up to you to earn your way into God’s good graces: a Works Gospel.
But Job shows us this is not the case. Suffering comes upon both the good and bad. Furthermore, scripture contains example after example of people who do some terrible things but are still accepted by God. The true gospel demonstrated in scripture tells us that, despite our inability to perform good works, God still loves us, and offered His son Jesus as a substitute for the eternal punishment we deserve: a Gospel of Grace.
BARRIER TO BELIEF
“If God is good, why is He letting this happen?”
I’m sure we’ve all heard this at some point. In fact, we may have said it ourselves. While there are many reasons why this question is flawed, including the expectation that someone deserves protection from a God they reject, it is the misunderstanding we’ve been discussing that might be the biggest hurdle for unbelievers.
Unfortunately, much of Christian witnessing tends to lean toward the “Job” Assumption: Life is better as a Christian. However, when an unbeliever sees Christians going through the same troubles that they are, or they decide to try God but their life situations don’t change the way they expect, they often come to one of two conclusions: either there is no God, or if there is and that’s how He treats his people, then I want nothing to do with Him.
This is why the Gospel, the True Gospel, is so important. Our suffering and troubles come not from God, but from living in a sinful world that wants freedom from God. Suffering and troubles are a by-product of that separation. Despite this, however, God has not abandoned us. Instead, He graciously sent Jesus to participate in our suffering and accept, in our place, the ultimate price of our separation, God’s wrath.
Accepting Jesus Christ may not put an end to our troubles here on earth . . . but it does restore our relationship with God and puts an end to our troubles in eternity.
If you are interested in reading through the Bible in a year, it’s not too late to join the Half Air group as we follow The Bible Recap plan. Just email me at terrence@half-air.com and let me know you want to join. I will send you an invitation that will connect you with us using the Bible App.
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