3Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands. 4Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. 5But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. 6Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope?
Why is it that the teachings and religious traditions of Christianity call and demand of us to live in piety? In recent generations, this pursuit for holiness and righteousness has progressively become one that has been perceived as either impossible, futile, too difficult, or simply archaic. We’ve even justified walking away from the church and its teachings because we feel that there is no God, or that they do not believe, or because the beliefs of the church are out of touch with the times. But in most cases, it is not a matter of belief, rather it is a matter of esteem for the purpose of keeping piety. People have distanced themselves from the church because of past corruption, hurt and judgement if they were not able to maintain a certain piety or, even just as hurtful, if their leaders were unable to do so. Thus when troubling times and circumstances come their way or if life has been sufficiently happy without the church, it has become so easy to say that God does not exist or that we simply do not need Him. Truly then, it is not enough that we have piety for piety sake; It is not enough to be righteous for self-righteousness.
Eliphaz, one of Job’s three closest friends reminds him of the true motive behind one’s piety. He says to Job in verse 6: “Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope?” What does he mean by this? One would argue that religion itself does not produce salvation. But I do believe this is contrary to what Eliphaz is attempting to communicate here. The belaying question is whether or not Job’s piety was a fruit of genuine hope and faith within his heart.
A sign of genuine devotion to God hangs on even in the most difficult times. It is hard for us to see clearly in front of us, nor do we tend to reflect soberly on the events of the past when there is a rush of emotion and pain. In fact we will judge both our past, and wish upon our future with the immediate difficulties of what we face today. Both times of peace, and times of trouble are moments where we ought to caution from our sin. This is not to say that we become uptight, lacking grace, and condemning of ourselves. Rather contrary, that we practice more grace, more patience, more love, and even more compassion. We practice in the character of Christ. But it also means that we ought to recognize our sinfulness, and our need for God’s redemptive grace in all circumstances – both in good and bad circumstances. The reason for our piety then is that we remain hopeful in the Lord both in sweet and the sour. A true sign of hopefulness and evidence of God’s grace is in the endurance of that piety.
Piety comes out of hope and joy in the Lord. Job was being reminded and rebuked by Eliphaz to hold tightly to this piety, and to check the state of his heart again. Everyday, we are called to do the same. Is my heart truly hopeful for the things of God rather than my own? Am I holding to my piety as a reflection of my salvation in the Lord even in the midst of peaceful and turbulent circumstances?
“Do not be discouraged by the resistance you will encounter from your human nature; you must go against your human inclinations. Often, in the beginning, you will think that you are wasting time, but you must go on, be determined and persevere in it until death, despite all the difficulties.”
Brother Lawrence
The Practice of the Presence of God
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