"The God of Justice"(Job 31:1-28)

 Job 31:1-28

 The fact that God is with us all the time is comforting, but it can also be a little stressful. Although God has forgiven us of all our sins because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are still in a battle. We should always be ready to fight against sin.

 God watches us to protect us from evil desire and sinful ways. God draws a clear line between good and evil, and God wants us to be on the good path.

 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? “If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit; (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)

Job 31:4-6 ESV

There are three things that God wants us to avoid.

 

1. Sinful desire

 We have to be honest that we are weak and sinful instincts are still in us. We also must remember that we have the Holy Spirit to help us overcome our sinful desires. With the Holy Spirit. We can fight our sinful instincts and not put our sins into action.

 

“If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit; (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!) if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands, then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me be rooted out. “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door, then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.

Job 31:5-10 ESV

  

2. Lack of love

 Job confesses that he would be guilty if he did not show love to others. This love is directed towards everyone. The servants, widows, and fatherless were those who would be in need or could not protect themselves, and Job made efforts to care for them. It easy to become caught up in our own lives and ignore our neighbors, yet God wants us to love our neighbors. In fact, Christians are to participate in the ministry of God by loving others. We need to love those people who have been brought into our lives.

 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him? Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?

Job 31:13-15 ESV

 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow), if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,

Job 31:17-19 ESV

 

3. Idols

 Idols distract us from God and truly serving God. We need to be faithful to God in any circumstance. If we love God because things are good, what happens when things go wrong.  Idols can become our focus, and God is forgotten in good times when our idols seem to save us. Of course, Idols cannot truly save us and eventually disappoint us or destroy us whereas God can truly save.

 “If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much, if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.

Job 31:24-28 ESV

 God is loving, but He is also just. On our sanctification journey, God is watching us to protect us since He loves us dearly, but we must make efforts to fight sin and be ready to serve God.