Commentary: Week of Sep. 25 - Oct. 1
September 25th, 2006 Commentator
The Big Picture
As the dialogue between Job and his three friends continues, it grows more emotionally heated. Job’s friends are convinced he did something wrong and is being punished by God. Their accusations against Job are from ignorance, for they are unaware of the conversation between God and Satan in Job chapter 1.
Eventually Job appeals to God, and in chapter 38, God answers. The first part of His answer, in chapters 38—39, reveals His power and wisdom as the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
What to Watch For
What point was God making to Job in chapters 38—39? How should this affect our perception of God?
Practical Applications for Today
- Job’s friends proclaimed their accusations out of ignorance. When we see others suffer, we need to be careful about judging the reasons behind it.
- We cannot judge another person’s spirituality on the basis of their suffering or prosperity.
- We can allow suffering to either push us away from God, or draw us closer to Him.
The Big Picture
Paul ends 1 Corinthians by addressing personal matters, and writes 2 Corinthians to continue dealing with issues of concern in the church at Corinth. Paul opens the letter by mentioning his sufferings for Christ and his history with the church at Corinth. He then goes on to defend his ministry. Apparently there were some who questioned Paul’s integrity and credibility.
What to Watch For
Notice what Paul endured for the sake of ministry, particularly to the believers in Corinth. Even though he gave of himself greatly, he was questioned and criticized. This should give us some insight into how difficult ministry work can be, and the importance of appreciating those who labor on behalf of our spiritual growth.
Practical Applications for Today
- Suffering allows us to experience God’s comfort, and enables us to grow so that we, in turn, can bring comfort to others who suffer.
- Serving God can become difficult at times. Sometimes we will be unjustly criticized. This is an opportunity for us to examine our service and make sure we do it for the right reasons (as Paul did).
- We need to remember that our suffering is both temporary and beneficial. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:16, “We do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.”