Read Job 1:1-5
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. Job 1:1
Lord Byron was on target when he wrote: "Truth is always strange; stranger than fiction."
The book of Job is not religious fiction. Job was a real person, not an imaginary character; both Ezekiel (14:14, 20) and James (5:11) attest to that fact. Because he was a real man who had real experiences, he can tell us what we need to know about life and its problems in this real world.
Job was "blameless and upright." He was not sinless, for nobody can claim that distinction except Jesus, but he was complete and mature in character and "straight" in conduct. The Hebrew word translated "blameless" is related to "integrity," another important word used throughout the book of Job. People with integrity are whole persons, without hypocrisy or duplicity. In the face of his friends' accusations and God's silence, Job maintained his integrity; and the Lord ultimately vindicated him.
The foundation for Job's character was the fact that he "feared God and shunned evil." To fear the Lord means to respect who He is, what He says, and what He does. It is not the cringing fear of a slave before a master, but the loving reverence of a child before a father, a respect that leads to obedience. "The remarkable thing about fearing God," said Oswald Chambers, "is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else."
Applying God's Truth:
What things would you need to do before other people considered you blameless?
Can you think of a recent situation in which you considered compromising your integrity? If not, can you think of any situation in which you might?
Would you say that you fear God? Explain.
Devotions for Patience and Wholeness ©2005 by Dr. Warren Wiersbe. Used by permission of David C Cook. May not be further reproduced. All rights reserved.