Book of Job For Men Only

The Book of Job presents standards of integrity for men of God.

Job and His Friends by Ilya Repin, 1869.

 

In the Book of Job, written about 2000 BC, let us imagine that we are sitting with his friends and listening to Job speak. Chapter 31 (NKJV) covers major points for man's integrity before God, that we might each consider.

He starts with a very basic premise.

V1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I look upon a young woman?
Honesty and integrity is always the policy of honorable men before God.
5 “If I have walked with falsehood,
Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,
6 Let me be weighed on honest scales,
That God may know my integrity.
Sexual sin is most strongly an addiction to men. The body is meant for the Lord and the Lord for the body. Our body belongs to Christ, said Paul (2 Cor 6:15).
9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
10 Then let my wife grind for another,
And let others bow down over her.
11 For that would be wickedness;
Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.
12 For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction,
And would root out all my increase.

Justice and treatment of others as ourselves in all aspects of life is God's standard. Indeed, it is God's Second Greatest Commandment.
13 “If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,
14 What then shall I do when God rises up?
When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them?
Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
Caring for the Poor, the Elderly, the Widow, and the Orphan is God's service in social justice.
16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 Or eaten my morsel by myself,
So that the fatherless could not eat of it
18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father,
And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow);
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or any poor man without covering;
20 If his heart has not blessed me,
And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
When I saw I had help in the gate;
22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder,
Let my arm be torn from the socket.
Lusting after Materialism, Greed, or Money as more important than God is idolatry.
24 “If I have made gold my hope,
Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’;
 25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had gained much;

Indeed, holding anything before the Sovereignty of God makes such an idol.
26 If I have observed the sun when it shines,
Or the moon moving in brightness,
27 So that my heart has been secretly enticed,
And my mouth has kissed my hand;
28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment,
For I would have denied God who is above.
Acting in pride or arrogance, seeking revenge or failing to forgive, counting myself above or better than even my enemy falls short of God's commands.
29 “If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him
30 (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for a curse on his soul);
Failing to share my prosperity and good fortune with those in need or failure to extend even my hospitality is failing to do my duty before God.
31 If the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’
32 (But no sojourner had to lodge in the street,
For I have opened my doors to the traveler);

Hiding fear or evil in my heart towards others causing me to fail in good deeds before others is cowardly.

33 If I have covered my transgressions as Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
34 Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence And did not go out of the door—
To neglect stewardship toward using proper production, property, produce, fields, business, and employees is failure before God.
38 “If my land cries out against me,
And its furrows weep together;
39 If I have eaten its fruit without money,
Or caused its owners to lose their lives;
40 Then let thistles grow instead of wheat,
And weeds instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended—but well worth our consideration.

--Bill Hunt

If you have a true story, a note, a prayer request,

or a question to share, please write a comment below

or email us.

For your convenience in cost savings,

shop using our AMAZON Search Box.

We will be grateful. This will credit our ministry to you.