THE FEAR OF GOD
The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Job 1:8
Job had no bible, no church and no fellowship but he had the fear of God. What did the fear of God teach him.
Read until the end, it's a little bit long but worth reading.
The testimony of God to satan about job was that He feared God. Can God boast about you to satan? What can God say about you, He who sees both your public life, your private life and also your inner life; what does God think about you. That is more important that what men think about you because men don't even know 10% of your life. Most of your life is hidden from men, and your inner thoughts, motives and attitudes are hidden from men and therefore don't seek the approval of men.
What does God think about you?
Why did God say that Job feared Him?
And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. Job 1:5.
He was concerned about sin in the inner life. He said, perhaps they have cursed God in their hearts. Not in their mouths, but in their hearts. That only God can see and hear. The thoughts you entertain in your heart prove that you either fear God or not.
How much are you concerned about your inner life, your inner thoughts, attitudes and motives? The fear of God will teach you to be careful in your inner life not just your outer life.
Your inner testimony before God must be more important than your outward testimony before men.
Watchfulness in your inner life is a prove that you fear God. Careful in your outer life is a proof that you fear men.
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.Job 1:20
In difficult circumstances, he knew that God was still in control. Nothing would cause him to stop worshipping God, either gain or loss, his relationship with God was independent of that and God was more important to him that everyone and everything else. More important that family and properties. He lost His children and properties but worshipped.
If you fear God, God will have the first place in your life in everything. He will be more important that family, property and friends.
What is the position of God in your life?
Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. Job 1:22
One who fears God is very careful with their speech. They have learnt to tame their tongues. They have learnt to be quick to listen and slow to speak. James 1:19
They don't make promises they don't intend to fulfill. They keep their word even if it hurts them. Psalm 15:4. Their yes is yes and their no is no. James 5:12.
The way one uses their tongue is the primary way in which we know whether they fear God or not. Job was careful with His tongue.
His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”
But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:9-10
He refused to compromise even when his beloved wife told him to curse God and commit suicide. He had made up His mind like a flint that He would walk in the fear God and would not allow anyone to lead him astray. God was more important to Him that his family.
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman. Job 31:1
Job was careful with His eyes. He decided that God didn't give him eyes to lust after women but to glorify God.
Jesus said in Mat 5:28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Doesn’t he see everything I do and every step I take? Job 31:4
He walked in the realisation that God was seeing everything he was doing. He couldn't hide from God.
One who fears God knows that he cannot hide from God and that God is seeing him all the time.
“If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart followed my eyes, Or if any spot has stuck to my hands,
Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted.
“If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway, then let my wife belong to another man; let other men sleep with her.
“For that would be a lustful crime; Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges. Job 31:7-11
He lived in constant judgement of himself to see whether there is somewhere he sinned against God.
He who fears the Lord is always judging himself.
“If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves When they filed a complaint against me, how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me? For God created both me and my servants. He created us both in the womb.Job 31:13-15
He never despised those in lower rank than he and he never took advantage of anyone weaker than him.
This is a mark of a man who fears God; he doesn't despise any human being and he will never take advantage of those who work for him. He realised that God made him and the servant as well. All are made in the image of God.
Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the orphan has not shared it Job 31:17.
The fear of God made him generous.
“For calamity from God is a terror to me, And because of His majesty I can do nothing. Job 31:23
He knew that God would judge him one day.
One who fears God is aware of the coming judgement and lives in such a way that they will not be found guilty on the last judgment.
“If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust, job 31:24
A man who fears God does not make money his god but it's servant. God and not money is enthroned in his heart.
if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven. Job 32:26-28
One who fears God does not worship any created thing but always enthroned God in his heart.
“Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies, or become excited when harm came their way? No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge. Job 31:29-30
The man who fears the Lord does not seek revenge over his enemies. He does not wish evil on those who do him harm. He doesn't rejoice when evil happens to their enemies.
“Have I covered my transgressions like Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, Have I feared the crowd or the contempt of the masses, so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors? job 31:33-34
One who fears the Lord does not justify himself and does not cover their sins. They confess and forsake them
or if I have stolen its crops or murdered its owners, Vs 39.
One who fears God does not use people without paying them. He doesn't take something belonging to another without paying.
Do you really think you fear God?
Job did not have a bible but had the fear of God. The fear of God taught him all the above mentioned things.
Remember he had no fellowship, he had no church but had the fear of God. We have the bible, we have church, we have fellowship but have no fear of God.
You can cry out to God today
Unite my heart to fear thy name
You are blessed to be a blessing
Feel free to share
@Blessed Mshindi Mambo
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