I can remember a time in college when everything was going really well. I had lots of friends, I was getting good grades, I was having fun, I was involved in a great church, my relationship with God was thriving, and I even enjoyed my part-time job. Everything was going great, and I was extremely happy.
When everything is going well, it is relatively easy to honor and praise God and follow him wholeheartedly—to fear God in the biblical sense of being devoted to him.
In Job 1, Satan claimed it was easy for Job to fear God because his life was going so well. Job had 10 children, thousands of animals, and many servants. Job was a great man whose kids threw great parties. He would even offer sacrifices just in case someone in his household sinned against God. So of course Job feared God, Satan said. His life was great!
As the story of Job continued, however, all those blessings were taken from him. His family, his possessions, and even his health were taken away. Yet Job still feared God. Our devotion to God shouldn’t be dependent on how well life is going for us. If we fear God only because life is good, then we really don’t fear God at all.
As you think about your devotion to God, make sure you fear God because of who he is and not because he can give you great blessings.
Awesome God, help us to adore and worship you because of who you are—God above all things. Amen.
About the author — Bret Lamsma
Bret Lamsma is Director of Faith Formation at First Church in Denver, Colorado, and has served churches in Michigan and California in youth, emerging adult, inter-generational, and educational ministries. Bret and his wife, Julie, have two children, and he enjoys hiking, disc golfing, and cheering for the Chicago Cubs.
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