Lessons from Job
The book of Job is the oldest written book in the Bible. What could we possibly learn from something so old, when the world was so different — thousands of years ago, when there was no running water, no phones, no microwaves, nothing like we have today?
The book begins by presenting Job as a good man who was very successful, but his children did not share his work ethic, and were out drinking and partying all the time. Well now, that sounds familiar. Job was very worried about them, but never confronted them. Rather, he prayed to God that He would forgive them. What a perfect example of what not to do! Mary Baker Eddy states, “If prayer nourishes the belief that sin is cancelled, and that man is made better merely by praying, prayer is an evil. He grows worse who continues in sin because he fancies himself forgiven.” (S&H) Job, in fact, did grow worse and suffered immensely until he learned his lesson.
The writers of the book of Job, however, did not understand what was going on. They only saw a good man become a victim. They conjured up an interaction between two personalities, God and Satan, wagering on the goodness of Job! The God-personality invited the Satan-personality to rain down the worst calamities imaginable upon Job, to demonstrate Job’s faithfulness, that he would not curse God. We know that the writers conjured all this up, because God is not in a human form, and there is no such thing as a person called Satan! But before we dismiss this absurd explanation, let us consider what very often happens when a good man suffers a terrible experience. Somehow, the blame ends up at God’s doorstep! Let us never fall for that temptation, for it contradicts “perfect God and perfect man.” Let us, instead, remember the book of Job.
Job went through an agonizing time, trying to reconcile his experience with his own pride of life, his own personal sense of good. He got nowhere. His three “well-intentioned” friends tried to help him, but since they were full of pride of life themselves, they only ended up making him feel worse, essentially condemning him.
Finally, Elihu, a fourth friend, and the youngest, steps up. He has the Christ-spirit, and starts with the premise of perfect God, Principle, and works from there with conviction and dominion. It breaks the mesmerism, and now Job can hear God.
Job’s heart is reached, and in total humility, he says: “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” His pride of life became dust and ashes, and the image and likeness of God stepped forward. As the story goes, Job ended up with twice as much as he had before, and had a very happy and full life.
We have touched upon some of the many lessons in the book of Job, lessons that will help us to grow in our understanding of Christian Science, and help us take every untoward experience and turn it into a blessing, remembering always Jesus’ statement, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Andrew Kidd
From current Healing Thoughts magazine