Job - Integrity

Many think of Job as a book about a man who suffered. The real emphasis of Job is his living out his purpose of “integrity” in the face of tremendous suffering.

Job lived a lifetime of Integrity

• A contemporary of Abraham 
• Married with 7 sons and 3 daughters 
• Wealthy with sheep, camels, oxen, servants 
• “The greatest man among all the people of the East” 
• A very spiritual man; caring for his family

Four ingredients for building Integrity

The Lord’s evaluation of Job’s life - (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3)

• Blameless – free from blame or faults 
• Upright – morally correct, honest and just 
• Fear God – reveres the character and works of God 
• Shuns evil - turns away from evil choices/opportunities

Job is tempted and tested: (Job 1:6-2:8)

• Satan accuses a man whom God commends 
• Satan tempted Job to fail; God tested Job to succeed 
• God “father-filters” temptation (1 Cor. 10:13) 
• Satan afflicts Job with loss of wealth, family and health 
• Job maintains his integrity and does not curse God

Many people observe people in pain and conclude:

• If good things happen to good people, and 
• Bad things happen to bad people, then 
• If bad things are happening to me (he / she), then I (he / she) must be a bad person. Pain does not equal punishment

Four sources of suffering:

• Personal sin - Thieves on cross (Luke 23:41) 
• Other’s sin - Stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:57-60) 
• Satan - Job afflicted with boils (Job 2:7-8)
• God - Blind man from birth (John 9:1-41)

When friends aren’t friendly - maintain your Integrity

His friends originally met together to sympathize with him and comfort him. But, eventually became very critical of him that he must have sinned to be in that much pain.

“Job’s wife stated, ‘Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!’” (Job 2:9) We must remember that she was grieving the same loss of children and material wealth, but she responded in anger.

How to live Integrity – let your walk match your talk

• Discernment: “My integrity is at stake.” (Job 6:29) 
• Endurance: “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him” (Job 13:15) 
• Purposeful Living: “Man’s days are determined… and You have set limits he cannot exceed.” (Job 14:5) 
• Forgiveness: Surely then You will count my steps but not keep track of my sin.” (Job 14:16) 
• Honest with feelings: My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me.” (Job 17:1) 
• Fearless hope: “I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth….I myself will see Him.” (Job 19:25) 
• Moral choices: “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.” (Job 31:1) 
• Partner with God: “I know that You can do all things, no plan of Yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2)

“After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10-15)