The Integrity of Job

JOB 1:1; 27:1-5; 31:19-28

GOLDEN TEXT: “My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.”—Job 27:6

NEARLY all are familiar with the biblical expression, “The patience of Job.” Job’s patience in affliction was one of the qualities of his character which enabled him to maintain his integrity before God. The Old Testament Book which bears his name is one of the most interesting in the Bible. Its main topic is Job, the trying experiences through which he passed, and the ultimate “happy ending” of those trials in the restoration of his health, his family, and his property.

The first verse of the Book uniquely introduces its character by saying, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job.” This is all the identification the Scriptures give of this wonderful character. Traditionally he is believed to have been a Gentile. The Jews so consider him, yet accept his Book as one which the Lord sent especially to them. To us, the matter of who he was, and from whence he came, is of little consequence. Of real importance to us are the great truths which are set forth in the Book.

The first verse tells us that the man whose name was Job was “perfect and upright.” We are not to assume from this that he was free from sin, that everything which he thought and said and did was wholly in harmony with God and with his standards of righteousness. In this respect “there is none righteous, no not one.” (Rom. 3:10) On the other hand the Scriptures speak of those “whose hearts are perfect” before God, and it is doubtless in this sense that Job was perfect. (II Chron. 16:9) His motives were perfect. He did not plan to do evil for evil’s sake. He worshiped God with his whole heart and was pained at the thought of displeasing him.

This is the attitude of heart which God expects of all his people. Nothing short of this is acceptable to him. Imperfections of our fallen flesh and the unrighteous influences with which we are surrounded may cause us unwittingly and temporarily to veer from the path of absolute perfection, but it should be against the desire of our hearts. If our hearts are perfect we will strive to have our every thought, word, and deed pleasing to the Lord. This was undoubtedly the attitude of Job.

It is this thought that is expressed in the Golden Text—“My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.” Job had a great deal of patience, yet this quality of his character was not perfect, for under the great stress of his suffering he cursed the day he was born, but this did not reflect a rebellious heart condition. Regardless of his unwilling deflections he could look back upon his experiences and rejoice that his heart devotion to God had not wavered, his heart did not reproach him.

“My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit,” Job declared. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, the Scriptures explain. One’s heart condition will indeed control his daily habits of conversation. If our hearts are filled with love for God and for his people, and for all mankind, our conversation will reflect this love. If our hearts are impure and bitter our habitual conversation will be the same. All that the Book of Job records of his conversation indicates that his heart was pure.

Job’s conception of righteousness was very high and indicates a large measure of unselfishness, love. His viewpoint is set forth in the 31st chapter, beginning with the 19th verse. Here we learn that he endeavored to care for the needy; that he had shunned the policy of oppressing the helpless; that he had not set his heart on riches, that mammon was not his god; that he was not a worshiper of the sun or moon or stars; and that he did not rejoice over the misfortunes of his enemies.

Reflection on these points indicates that Job was truly a godlike character. Jesus, speaking of our Heavenly Father, tells us that he bestows his blessings upon the just and the unjust, and apparently this is what Job endeavored to do. Speaking of his enemies he says, “Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.” To a degree at least, Job loved his enemies; for he would rather see them blessed than cursed.

On the matter of worship, he says, “If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; and my heart hath been secretly enticed, … this also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.” (Job 31:26-28) Job knew better than to worship the works of God in nature but he was an ardent worshiper of the true God.

QUESTIONS:

How could Job, a member of the fallen race, be perfect?

What did Job mean by his heart not reproaching him?

In what sense was Job a godlike man?

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