Job 7

“Human life on earth is like serving in the army; yes, we drudge through our days like a hired worker, like a slave longing for shade, like a worker thinking only of his wages.” Job 7:1-2 (CJB)

It has been said that the “American Dream” is to work hard and become your own boss. When I was in high school, I met one of the most successful Americans. I was living in Arkansas and working at Wal-Mart’s store #125 when a voice came over our loudspeaker, “Hello, everyone! I am Sam Walton, owner of Wal-Mart, and I would like to meet you.” It was the first time I ever shook a billionaire’s hand. I must have washed my hands too soon after that handshake because the billions didn’t transfer to me!

Several years later, I heard a news report that Sam Walton had died. And how much of those billions did he take with him?  $0. Here is my point, and perhaps Job’s as well: Even if we become the boss of the world, we still must submit to the Lord. We work for God.

Yes, I know it grates at our independent spirits! We don’t want to work for anyone or take orders from any authority. But that doesn’t change the fact that we are bondservants at the beck-and-call of our master. It pleases God when we recognize our place in His Kingdom and willingly offer ourselves to His service. Consider Jesus’ conversation with a Roman centurion.  

“‘Lord,’ he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, ‘Shall I come and heal him?’ The centurion replied, ‘Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.’” Matthew 8:6-10 (NIV)

Job understood his place and the calling of all mankind to serve God. He compared it to the life of an army soldier. Well-disciplined soldiers do not question orders from their superiors, even when they seem absurd. Job did not like his condition one bit, but he had hope in God’s character. When what he believed to be true about God did not seem consistent with his immediate circumstances, Job held on to the Lord in faith.

What a perfect message for our present-day World!

But here’s the better news: We serve a Master Who (through the atoning work of His Son, Jesus) esteems us “slaves” (who have been purchased by Jesus’ shed blood) as ‘sons and daughters,’ making us co-inheritors with Messiah Jesus.