https://odb.org/2023/08/28/losing-everything
One of the scariest books to read in the Bible has to be the book of Job. Just reading chapter One will send shivers down our spine. We shudder at the thought and sight of seeing Job losing everything in an instant. His family and all his possessions. From a person with mostly everything to someone with nothing. But the beauty of Job is that he never once cursed or blamed God for what happened to him. In fact, he continued to worship the LORD. His attitude was straightforward, the LORD gave, and the LORD took away (Job 1:21). Some argue that it was not the LORD who took but Satan. Nevertheless, Job’s attitude is correct, it doesnt matter because, in the end, all that he has is God’s and God-given.
Also, it was Job during those ancient times who already proclaimed that in the end, he would stand with his Redeemer, although his skin is destroyed as his Redeemer lives! He could articulate the idea of the resurrection of our bodies on the last day, even way back then. See Job 19:25.
I think the biggest lesson we could apply from today’s ODB is to do what Cesar did when he lost everything. He asked God to show him the way forward, and he simply started all over again. The source of everything on this earth is still God. If we follow Him and listen out to His voice and look beyond the natural into the spiritual realm with eyes of faith, we will be able to start all over no matter how bad our situation is. In our current context, it could be our lifelong work at our workplace, and we have just been laid off. We may thus have to start all over again in another organisation, building new contacts and networks and establishing our credentials and credibility all over again. Or circumstances may have led to us migrating aboard or moving to another city, and we now need to start our ministry all over again in a new church.
We do not wish for Job’s situation, but if it ever happens, stay true to the course in our faith, seek God for the way forward, and start all over. Jesus taught before that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains (Matthew 17:20-21). Clearly, Jesus was using hyperbole to convey His message, but its meaning is simple – what we need is faith in God, just a little, and it could actually do wonders!
Ronnie's Thoughts 