Preached by Gregory W. Lee
4 November 2007
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Book of Job -- this is the first of the poetic books in the Bible, so you can find it right in front of the Psalms -- I'm sure most of us have heard of Job before -- even if you haven't read this book, which some scholars say is the oldest book in the Bible, I'm sure you've heard of Job and his troubles
-- look down now with me in Chapter 1 at verse 13 and let me read the first part of Job's woes
13. One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house,
14. a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,
15. and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
16. While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
17. While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
18. While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house,
19. when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
-- now that's just the first part -- flip over to Chapter 2 and let's look at the rest of Job's woes
7. So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
8. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
II. The Parable of the Donkey
-- there once was this man who didn't have much, but he had a donkey that meant the world to him -- one day, the donkey fell into an old abandoned well on the farm -- the donkey, being a donkey -- kicked and kicked -- when that didn't seem to help, it brayed and brayed -- it made a terrible commotion, but no one came to help it
-- the donkey was exhausted and resting wearily by the side of the well, when its owner noticed it was missing -- the owner became concerned about his donkey and he searched everywhere he could think of -- he could not find his donkey -- he went to his neighbors and asked them to help -- they searched everywhere -- but no luck -- the donkey appeared to be missing for good
-- the neighbors gathered in the man's farmyard and tried to console him -- it was then that one of the men looked into the old abandoned well and saw the missing donkey -- the men spent the rest of the day and most of the night trying to get a rope around the donkey stuck at the bottom of the well -- they were unable to accomplish the feat -- they felt defeated -- the owner of the donkey felt terrible
-- they talked about it and the wisest among them suggested that they fill in the abandoned well -- it would bury the donkey, but it would prevent the same tragedy from befalling someone else -- perhaps a child -- so they agreed that this was what they would do
-- the men took turns throwing a shovel full of dirt into the hole
-- the owner felt terrible for the donkey -- he felt terrible for himself and his loss -- he didn't have much, but he always had a donkey -- now he wouldn't even have that
-- once the first shovel of dirt hit the donkey, the animal found renewed energy -- it brayed even louder than he had before -- the men turned their eyes from one another and pretended not to hear the donkey's pleadings -- as more and more dirt fell into the hole, the donkey began to understand the hopelessness of its situation -- it began to give up
-- then it happened -- the donkey realized that the dirt was a gift -- with each scoop of dirt that fell into the well, the donkey shook the dirt off it's back and took a step up onto the top of the pile of dirt forming at the bottom of the well -- more dirt, another shake, and then another step up
-- the men kept shoveling, certain that they were burying the donkey -- after much shoveling, the men were quite surprised to see the donkey at eye level -- it was standing on top of all that dirt that had been dropped on it -- it calmly shook itself clean and walked out of the filled-in well
-- how many of you have ever felt like a donkey in the bottom of a well? -- how many of you have ever felt like no one cared? -- that you were lost and alone and afraid and being covered with dirt? -- how many of you have ever felt like no one knew what you were going through and that no one could help?
-- I think we can all identify with the donkey in this story -- sometimes it seems like life just keeps throwing dirt on us and things just aren't going our way -- and sometimes, it seems like we're in the bottom of a well with no way out
-- sometimes our life reminds us of the old Buck Owens and Roy Clark song, "Gloom, despair and agony on me -- Deep dark depression -- excessive misery -- if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all -- gloom, despair, and agony on me."
-- we look at our lives and we feel like Job -- in one moment, Job lost his children, his home, his livelihood, his health, and all his wealth -- he was doing everything he could to live right and to do right but then one day he looked up and realized that he was sitting in the bottom of a well, alone and abandoned, and the world and his friends just kept throwing dirt on him
-- and what made it worse was that Job had absolutely no idea why these things had happened -- in fact, the whole Book of Job is nothing more than Job and his friends trying to explain why these calamities and troubles had come into Job's life
III. Answers to "Why?"
-- that question, "Why?" has been asked more throughout the history of this world than any other question -- "Why has this happened to me? -- What did I do to deserve this?"
-- so, this morning, I want to spend a few moments looking at the reasons why trials and troubles and calamities come into our lives so that we are better able to respond to them in a godly manner when they do come
A. Our Sin
-- so, what's the first way that trials and troubles come into our lives? -- that answer seems obvious -- it's because of sin -- disobedience to God
-- anytime we sin -- anytime we do something contrary to God's commands, we have to pay the consequences for it -- God's commands are given to us to protect us and to guard us and keep us safe in this life -- and if we choose to disobey God and do things our own way, then we have to pay the consequences for that sin
-- for instance, think back to when you were a child -- God's word tells us that we are to honor and respect our parents -- and if you chose not to do that -- if you were disrepectful or disobedient to your parents, then they probably did like mine did -- they probably warmed the seat of your britches -- getting spanked was a consequence of sin -- that trial and trouble was brought about in my life simply because I didn't follow God's word and I disobeyed my parents
-- that holds true for all of God's commands -- there are always consequences for your actions -- that's why God shows us the way to go and encourages us to follow Him in obedience rather than having to pay the price of consequence for our sins and disobedience
-- when trials or troubles come into your life, the first thing you need to ask yourself is "did I cause this because of my actions?"
-- if that's the case, then you should repent of your sins and ask God to forgive you, but understand that you may still have to pay the consequences for your actions -- in other words, you may still have to go through the trouble that you caused
-- if my driver's license is taken away by the state because I was caught speeding too many times, repenting of that sin isn't going to take that consequence away -- it will make me right with God -- but it won't get my license back
-- the best advice is don't sin so you don't have to pay the consequences of your sin
-- now keep in mind that not all troubles come about because of sin -- that's what Job's friends thought -- each of them said that Job's troubles came about because he was a sinner and that he needed to repent of his sins and ask God for forgiveness -- some of them were quite mean about it -- and that was not what was going on with Job
-- look back at Chapter 1, verse 1-5
1. 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.
2. He had seven sons and three daughters,
3. and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4. His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.
-- Job is described here as blameless and upright -- a man who fears God -- a man who follows God and is obedient to Him -- God Himself recognized Job as being a righteous man -- Job's troubles were not the result of his sin
-- you know, a lot of times we have the tendency in the church to assume that if a person is having problems in their lives, it is because they are a sinner -- that they are being punished for their sins or paying the consequences of their sins
-- I once visited a friend who was on his deathbed in the hospital -- and as I was there, his mother-in-law proceeded to announce that the only reason he was sick was because he was a sinner -- that if he would repent of his sins that God would forgive him and heal him
-- that was a like a knife to my friend's heart because he was a godly man who always tried to do what was right -- sometimes troubles come about as a result of sin -- but sometimes they don't
-- despite what Joel Osteen and the other prosperity preachers teach, troubles come to people -- troubles come to Christians -- for a variety of reasons -- sin is only one way that we bring trouble on ourselves
B. Sins of Others
-- the second way that trials and troubles come into our lives is similar to the first -- it's because of sin -- but not our sin -- it's because of the sin of others
-- there's a lot of people in this world today who are hurting because of another person's sins -- growing up we were close friends with a family with an alcoholic father -- and I remember seeing the physical and emotional abuse that his sin of alcoholism spread throughout that family -- that family was hurting -- they had troubles beyond belief -- and it wasn't their fault -- it was only because of the sin of the father
-- sin causes nothing but pain and suffering -- often in the life of the sinner -- but just as often in the life of those around them
-- if this is the case in your life -- if you are suffering because of something someone else has done or is doing -- then the only thing you can do is to pray for the one causing the problems and forgive them for causing you these problems -- I would encourage you to point them to the cross and to Christ for forgiveness and repentence -- it may not take away the immediate consequences of their sins, but it will help keep them from sinning and perpetuating the cycle any longer
C. Discipline
-- the third way that trials and troubles come into our lives is by God disciplining us for our sins -- this is different than the earthly consequences of sins -- everyone on earth -- Christians and non-Christians -- have to face the earthly consequences of their sins
-- but in the life of a Christian, God will use these consequences -- these trials and troubles -- to discipline us and to lead us back to Him
-- Hebrews 12: 5-7 says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. -- Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"
-- the word "discipline" comes from the root word, "disciple," meaning someone who follows -- so the purpose of the discipline of God is to lead us back into fellowship with Him -- He allows trials and tribulations and troubles into our lives to steer us back onto His path
D. Sandpaper
-- the final reason that trials and troubles come into our lives is because God is allowing it to mold us and form us and shape us into the people that He has called us to be
-- as James tells us in his book, our faith needs testing to be proved -- without testing, our faith cannot be developed and we cannot mature as Christians
-- one of the common forestry practices down here is to thin a forest -- to take out 1/3 to ½ of the trees in the area to leave more room for the other trees to grow -- sometimes, after you thin a stand, you'll have a windstorm come through and you'll go back out and you'll find a lot of trees have been knocked down by the wind
-- you see, these trees have been growing up in a sheltered environment -- they have been protected from the ravages of wind storms -- they have been pampered in life and haven't faced many trials or troubles -- and the first time that they are faced with a trial, they fall over -- they haven't developed the ability to withstand the wind, so they easily topple at the first breeze
-- for that reason, God sometimes allows trials and troubles into our lives simply to help strengthen our faith -- these trials and troubles are like sandpaper that God is applying to help smooth off our rough edges and to make us stronger so we can serve Him better
-- that seems to be what was going on with Job -- Job's problems did not come about because of sin -- either his or someone else's -- they didn't come along because God was disciplining him for sin -- they came along because God was testing his faith -- strengthening his faith -- breaking and molding and pruning him so that he could be more mature in his relationship with God
-- we see the same thing in the New Testament -- in Luke 22:31, Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked to sift Peter as wheat -- in other words, to pour out afflictions and troubles on him just like he did on Job
-- and God allowed it so that Peter's faith might be strengthened -- sometimes, trials and troubles come on us for our own good
IV. Closing
-- so, in summary, it appears that troubles come into our lives through four major ways -- first, as a result of the consequences of our sins -- second, as a result of the consequences of the sins of others -- third, as God's way to discipline us for disobedience as a means to lead us back into fellowship -- and, fourth, as God's method to strengthen our faith and to turn us into the people He has called us to be
-- so on those days that you feel like a donkey in the bottom of a well -- when it feels like all of life's troubles and trials have been poured out on you -- what should you do?
-- first, you need to search your heart and your life and see if the cause of your trouble is your own sin -- ask God to show you any unconfessed sin in your life -- and then repent of your sin and ask God to forgive you
-- if your troubles are the result of sin, the Holy Spirit will convict you of that and will point you to repentence and restoration through Christ
-- secondly, look to see if the cause of the troubles is someone else -- if so, God may be calling for you to intercede on their behalf -- to pray for them to turn to God and seek forgiveness and renewal at the cross of Christ -- He may also be calling on you to witness to them through the depths of your pain so that they might see Christ in you
-- finally, if you can see no reason for your trials or troubles -- no sin in your life or the life of others around you causing it -- no reason for God to be disciplining you -- then it is likely that God is using these trials and troubles to prune you and shape you and strengthen your faith
-- if that is the case, give in to the troubles -- pray to God to do whatever it takes to strengthen you and to remove anything that is hindering your walk with Christ -- submit to Him and trust in His promise of Romans 8:28, " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
-- this morning, as I close, I want to invite you to respond to God's word as you feel led -- if you are struggling with trials or troubles in your life, talk to God about them -- I would be more than happy to pray with you or to meet you outside of church to pray and talk with you about them -- just let me know
-- let's pray
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