You got to feel sorry for Job. To have known the loss of everything owned and loved as he had known . . . to have suffered through the pain of his bodily afflictions as he suffered . . . to have agonized through the endless debates of “You’ve sinned and thus suffer” vs. “No I haven’t, just let me talk to God and I’ll prove it” with his so-called “comforters”. The “why?” question permeates the book. We know the “why dynamics” because we have the insight given to us in Job 1 and 2 . . . but while Job went through all this he didn’t have a clue.

This morning I read Job 31, Job’s final volley in his on-going debate with his friends. And what’s insightful about this passage, I think, is what is presented as Job’s final attempt to justify himself, to prove that he doesn’t deserve God’s discipline and judgment. And as I read this, it presented itself as a pretty good list of what my life would need to look like if I too were to try and be like Job . . . to try and be blameless, upright, fearing God, and shunning evil. (Job 1:1, 8, 2:3) . . . (by the way . . . I ain’t no Job!)

If I lived like Job . . . I’d make a promise with my eyes to not look lustfully at a young woman (31:1) . . . I wouldn’t walk in falsehood or deceit (31:5-6) . . . I’d fight any temptation to be drawn to another man’s wife (31:9) . . . I would treat those who work for me well (31:13-14) . . . I’d be mindful of the poor and the fatherless and those who need help because they can’t help themselves (31:16-21) . . . I wouldn’t place my worth, hope, or confidence in my wealth, nor regard myself as so great that I “kiss my hand”, for this would be “false to God above” (31:24-28) . . . I wouldn’t even rejoice at the destruction of my enemies but would treat all with dignity and respect (31:30) . . . and I would show hospitality to the stranger (31:31-32) . . . and I would not be a hypocrite and try and hide my sin as I bow to peer pressure (31:33-34).

Pretty impressive list, I’d say. Job 31 sets a pretty good standard for righteous living. And I believe that Job did all this, and maybe more . . . for he was a blameless man, an upright man, a man who feared God and shunned evil . . . God declared it Himself . . . three times.

But as I read this list this morning, I am so thankful that my justification before a Holy, Holy, Holy God is not dependent on how well nor how perfectly I match up to the “Job standard” . . . that my works are not the basis for my justification and my righteous standing before God. But “my work” was to have believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God . . . to believe that He came to earth to die on a cross as the Lamb of God for the atonement for my sin . . . to believe that on the third day He arose from the dead in victory over sin and death . . . and to believe that all those who believe in Him should not perish in their sin but be declared justified and righteous and have everlasting life. My “accomplishment” was to have responded with the faith given me to the grace shown me concerning my need and His eternal provision for that need.

My standing this morning is not based on who I am . . . or what I’ve done . . . but in Whom I have believed . . .

“. . . for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.”   – Jesus     (John 16:27 ESV)

Praise God that my right standing before heaven this morning is not dependent on me living like Job . . . but on me having believed like the disciples. That it’s not dependent upon my works, but upon Jesus’ finished work on the cross. That it’s not about me entering into debate as to what I’ve done to prove I’m righteous, but upon a humble declaration that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1Tim 1:15).

I have no other plea . . . than Jesus died for me. Amen?