Job 29: What will we remember?

Today’s Scripture Reading: Job 29

Whether we have already attained the career we had worked so long and hard for, or whether we are studying, preparing and learning to achieve a certain vocation, a long and hard question we must ask ourselves is – to what end is the reason we pour such aching efforts to achieve or sustain them? What is the purpose and reason why we work and study so hard to achieve these careers?

The reality of human life is that we must work in order to eat. It is out of necessity and also out of duty as it says to us in 2 Thessalonians. But to what end? Is it merely to survive and to eat? Why do we survive and eat? It certainly must be more than just a means of survival then. Our work, our careers, our dreams – they must mean more than just a means of feeding our mouths and clothing our backs.

Job was a man of status in his community before all of the tragedies came his way. He was wealthy, and was established in high parts of leadership there. But Job’s reminiscing on the good times of the past in chapter 29 are not merely narcissistic memories of prosperity. Instead, in versus 1-6 Job’s recognition is of God’s grace. But what is most wonderful about his reflection from verse 7 and on, is that his past memory of socio-economic status was not a means of bragging and arrogance. It was not a “look at what I had! look how rich and powerful I was!” Instead, what Job remembers was what he was able to do for others more than himself. He was able to fight for justice for those oppressed, and was able to feed the poor and help aid the sick. He was able to comfort people with his position in society. He was a blessing with his blessings.

How will you remember your blessings?

Whether we are rich or poor in worldly economy, God has given us great wealth in our spiritual economy through Jesus Christ. There is nothing more valuable than His love and our salvation in Him. Therefore the true questions we ought to reflect on when we think about our life then is this: What has God given me today that I should use for His glory? Have my blessings become other people’s blessings? Did I fight for the oppressed and marginalized in my position? Did I feed the hungry? Help those who are sick? Was I of comfort to those who are hurt?

The end purpose of both our blessings are not merely for ourselves to enjoy. If it is merely wealth or success that we look back on, be warned that it may not be anything of worth when we get to heaven. Our blessings are given to us so that we would enjoy the glory of God within them as they become a blessing to others around you.

Don’t just be blessed. Be a blessing.

Be a blessing with even the smallest blessings God has given you today. If He has abundantly given you more, then bless the Lord by blessing others even more so that His glory may be the only thing we boast of at the end of our lives. Our names can easily be forgotten, but the name is Jesus will always live on.

Photo by: Jared Erondu, https://unsplash.com/@erondu