Job

...is one heck of a guy.

I had a mini revelation of sorts of when reading through the book of Job this morning - okok i know i'm just a teeny weeny bit behind in terms of the bible reading plan. roughly about 10 books XD

The books of Job begins by saying how Job was a upright, blameless shunned evil and feared God, who was blessed inmmensely by his Creator, and was the greatest man (in terms of wealth and possesions) in the East of his time. In short, he was the model christian, what most of us aspire to be; do good obey God, and be blessed out of your socks.

Then along comes Satan (or the Accuser) to God one day, and they have a conversation of sorts where God boasts to Satan about Job, saying how pleased He is with Job. So Satan retorts back, "Of course la, you bless him with so much, anyone can do that and would do that with that kind of blessings." Malaysian slang is my own interpretation.

Well then God says, "Well dude, go ahead and do whatever you want with Job, but do not harm him."

So anyways Satan goes out and takes everything away from Job in one go - all his wealth, his servants, his children; all in a single night.

Job's response to all this "misfortune"; after grieving for the loss of everything that he had (read tearing his robes and shaving his head), was to get up and say; "Naked I come, and naked I go, God gives and God takes away, and I will praise my God regardless."

Reading this got me thinking quite a bit. More often at the first sign of trouble, we end up questioning "why why why waaaaiiiiiii God did you allow this to happen... I've been loyal and faithful and etc" and go off into a state of depression. And justifiably so. It's the natural and normal human response.

Job however, passed the test/challenge that was put before him with flying colurs.

Even without everything, will you still love Me?

Or

Do you love Me for what I (can) give; or do you love Me for who I AM?

Boy, talk about tough questions.

Job, you the man.