JOB THE MAN

 “There was a man…” Job 1:1

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

If we looked only at these verses from Job, without comparing them with the rest of the Bible, we might conclude that here was a man that lived above sin. He was said to be perfect, but does that mean he was without fault before God? He was upright—honest in his dealings with other men—but was he totally upright and honest with God?  He feared God; he stood in awe of God as the Creator; but did he have a completely healthy fear? He eschewed evil, abhorred it, avoided it, stood against it; but what was his motivation? He was a man that had integrity; he had a value system that he lived by; he had principles; he was honest and sincere; but what place did his integrity hold in his heart? He was said to be “my servant Job”; he did those things that were expected of every man; but why did Job serve God?  In spite of the testimony that Job had, we must remember that Job was only a man; perhaps he was more godly than most, but he was still a man; and what does the Bible say about all men?

Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

In reading the preceding verses we must emphasis the words “none” and “all”; and we must assume, that if Job were just a man, then these verses apply to him also. There are other men and women in the Bible, like Job, who have received similar testamonies about their character. However, that does not mean that they lived above sin, nor does their commendations have anything to do with their righteousness before God.

Of Enoch it was said, “Enoch walked with God.”

Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

In the case of Noah the Scriptures say, “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”

Gen 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

God said of Abraham, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment”;

Gen 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

David was said by God to be, “a man after mine own heart.”

Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

Concerning Zacharias and Elisabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, it was said, “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Likewise, for Moses, Samuel, Daniel, Mary, and others, there are similar verses we could quote, but we must balance those verses with all the Scriptures concerning men. Some of these men had obvious faults and committed grievous sins against God, while others had nothing negative mentioned.

Just and perfect Noah got drunk and lay naked in his tent for all to see.

Gen 9:20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

Abraham, the father of the faithful, failed to believe God’s promise of a child and instead sleep with Sarai’s handmaid to produce an offspring. Later, he lied about his relationship with Sarai because he failed to trust God and was afraid to tell the truth.

Gen 16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Gen 20:2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

David, the man after God’s own heart, committed adultery; and then to cover up his sin he had her husband murdered.

2 Sam 11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

2 Sam 11:14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.

The Apostle Paul was keenly aware of placing too much emphasis upon what is said in the Scriptures about men—especially when we weigh them in the scales of God’s righteousness. About himself he said that concerning the righteousness that was in the law he was blameless. Yet he also said that he was the chief of sinners.

Phil 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

1 Tim 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Of the Religious Jews, Paul said, that they had a zeal for God, but they had failed to meet God’s standard of righteousness.

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Concerning the great Patriarch Abraham, Paul said that although his earthly works might give him reason to boast before men, they held no such weight before God.

Rom 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Taking into account all that the Scriptures say, there was really only one man in the Bible with whom God was totally pleased with, and that was the man Christ Jesus.

Matt 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matt 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

All men live sin-tainted lives and even the best things we do are corrupt in God’s sight. Again, notice the word “all” in the following verse and how that must apply to every man, even Job.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

All men, even Job, have built their lives upon their own vanities. They do not see themselves as God sees them in the light of His righteousness. Man’s self-image must be destroyed and replaced with the truth of God.

Psa 39:5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Psa 39:11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

Psa 62:9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

Because all men are subject to the degrading forces of sin, all who are God’s children need the spiritual strengthening and correction that comes through the trials of life, and this includes Job.

Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

We might even say that perhaps those that are the closest to the Lord have the most need of His Fatherly correction, as they are the ones most tempted by spiritual pride.

2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

2 Cor 11:22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

2 Cor 12:1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

No saint of God will ever be perfect in this life, even though our ultimate goal is to be like Christ. God’s chastening is meant to get us out of our complacency and to cause us to grow in Christ. No matter what Job’s level of spiritual maturity or how high we may rank him on the scale of human goodness, none of us can ever say, ‘I have attained.’  Even the Apostle Paul, who probably reached a spiritual maturity above any mortal man, said he was still far from the spiritual goal of being like Christ.

Phil 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Recognizing therefore, Job’s need of further spiritual maturity that could only come about by the special revelation of God, let us examine the areas of weaknesses in Job’s life. While Job outwardly had a righteous testimony before men, there were many issues that soon came to the surface in the heat of his suffering. The trials we go through are meant to reveal the deeper manifestations and complexities of our sin nature. Also, his lack of understanding of what we may term as fundamental concepts about God, could only be taught in the school of affliction. So then, what were some of the key issues that the Lord had to deal with in Job’s philosophy about himself and God?

1. Job had no conception of his fallen nature and of how far he fell short of God’s standard of righteousness. He was “ignorant of God's righteousness” and sought “to establish” his “own righteousness”; and had “not submitted” himself “unto the righteousness of God.” At the beginning of his trial he claimed to be “righteous”; that he followed “his steps,” “his way have I kept“; he was faithful to “the commandment of his lips”; and that the “words of his (God’s) mouth” was the most important treasure in his life. Contrast these statements to those at the end of the Book where, after having his spiritual eyes opened, he says, “I am vile,” and “I abhor myself.”

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Job 23:7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

Job 23:11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

2. Job questioned the providence of God as he viewed his life as a bitter mistake and wished that he had never been born. All of the days he had spent living under the sunshine of God’s blessings, meant nothing to him now, but only gave him reason to despair. Had God made a mistake in allowing him to be born, to live a blessed life, but now to suffer in the furnace of affliction?

Job 3:1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.
2 And Job spake, and said,
3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.
4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.
5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.
7 Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.
8 Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.
9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
10 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.
11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
12 Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
13 For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,
14 With kings and counselors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;
15 Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:
16 Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

3. He questioned the goodness and fairness of God. Like all of us, his suffering had caused him a great conflict of mind. Job could see no cause in himself for such calamities; therefore, the fault must lie with God.

Job 3:23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

Job 9:17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

Job 16:11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is foul with weeping, and my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

4. Job lived in fear because of his lack of understanding of the grace and goodness of God. Because Job’s relationship with God was based upon his own righteousness, he could never find peace or rest in knowing that he had done everything right, or that he had done enough to please God.

Job 3:24 For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.
25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

Job 13:20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

5. He viewed God as a fearsome tyrant against whom there was no recourse. His works driven salvation had made “his god” into a hard taskmaster; and the feelings that lay hidden within his heart were now coming forth from his mouth.

Job 6:1 But Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

Job 7:17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

In comparing Scripture with Scripture, and taking the Word of God as a whole, what may we summarize about Job, both bad and good. First, he was a real man and not a fictional character as some would purport. He was like any other man—not like the perfect God-man, Jesus, and not an extraodinary man like some mythical hero. This we must accept as a foundational truth, else how could ordinary believers find any comfort in the lessons of his life. Now, because he was a man, he inherited all the problems that every man does in their fallen state. Scriptures speak of all men, Job included, in a very unfavorable light. We may deduce from the Bible that Job was a sinner like all men; in everything he fell short of the glory of God—as all men do; and even Job’s best efforts were “filthy rags” in God’s sight. His image of himself was vain; and that he, like all of God’s chosen, needed correction.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Psa 39:5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

We may also say, that because he was a depraved member of the human race, his basic nature was to serve sin. Like all of Adam’s race, Job was “dead in trespasses and sins.” Job was not a born-again child of God with a new spiritual nature; and therefore he still “walked according to the course of this world.”

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Now, while this book does take an opposing view to the prevailing picture of Job, it is not meant to detract from what the Scripture actually says about him—as far as he compares to other men. The book of Job does say that he was the greatest of all the children of the east, and that he feared God and eschewed evil. Job was not a godless, immoral heathen who had wholly given himself over to evil. He is also revered in other Scriptures as well, being commended by God in the book of Ezekiel, and in the book of James.

Eze 14:13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:
16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.
17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.
19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:
20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Jam 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Furthermore, the Lord calls him “my servant Job” because he served God by serving his fellow man. Job was always reaching out to the poor and helpless—the widows, orphans and others who were downcast. He not only gave of his material wealth, but provided them comfort and protection as well. When we give to others in need, we are, in a sense, giving to God.

Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job 29:12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

Matt 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Prov 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

We must not however, make too much of his being called “my servant Job.” All creatures serve God in some way; even Satan came to present himself before the Lord, as if he had been summoned—and indeed he was. He did not presume to come, or rebel against coming, but obediently joined together with all the angels before God. As a servant, he could do nothing except by the express will of Jehovah. He was powerless before the Great King and knew that only by God’s permission could he touch Job.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

To be called a servant of God, as Job was, is indeed a great honor for any man. However, we cannot place to much significance upon that statement, especially in regards to eternal salvation; because it is “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” Neither does the term infer any kind of personal relationship with God; servants are not children of God, neither are they necessarily friends of God. Many people serve God by serving mankind, but they do not know God or have any special kind of relationship with Him.

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Matt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

John 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

All of mankind was created to serve God in some way, and each of us are given talents or abilities with which to do so. In the final judgment, men will be judged not only for their wickedness, but also for failing to give back to God in service, what had been given to them to use for His glory.

Matt 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We might say here also, that on a human scale, Job was better than most. The Lord Himself said “that there is none like him in the earth.” He was said to be perfect—not in the sense of sinless perfection, but he was mature in wisdom. He was upright—honest in all his dealings, and he could be trusted. He feared and reverenced God; he recognized God as the Creator and Judge, by Whom all actions would be weighed. He honored God in his life by walking uprightly and keeping the blood sacrifice of animals for sin. The Scriptures said that he eschewed or avoided evil. He did not walk or have fellowship with evil men, but rebuked their deeds.

Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

Job was a faithful husband who would not even lustfully look upon other women.

Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Matt 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

He was a loving father who deeply cared for the spiritual welfare of his children.

Job 1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Even though he was rich, he did not idolize his possessions. He owned them; they did not own him.

Job 31: 24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much.
26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

Of all the things in his life, his wealth, his health, and even his own children, there was no material thing that Job would not give up while still maintaining his trust in God. He put nothing before his belief in God, except one idol he still worshipped. However, that is the thing the Lord would deal with in Job’s life, and which we will later examine in detail.

Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.