Job, A Man Whom God Recommended
The book of Job opens by stating, “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. 1:1). Four sterling characteristics are mentioned concerning Job. He was perfect, upright, feared God, and eschewed evil. Job was a man whom God recommended as an example of a faithful servant (1:1; 2:3). Let’s notice the four characteristics that made Job a man recommended by God.
Job: A recommended man.
First, Job was described as a perfect man. The word “perfect” does not mean that Job did not sin. It simply means that Job was a complete man. He was mature spiritually. Within the context of the book, Job admired that he had sinned (Job. 14:16). Job was perfect in the same sense that other great patriarchs were perfect (Gen. 6:9; 17:1). For example, it is said of Noah that he was “a just man and perfect in his generations” (Gen. 6:9). Yet, we know that Noah was not sinlessly perfect. On one occasion, we have the record of how he became drunk (Gen. 10:20, 21). Likewise today, God does not expect us to be sinlessly perfect (1 Jn. 1:7–‐9; 2:1–‐2). Yet, He still wants us to grow into mature servants. He wants us to “grow in the grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior” (2 Pet. 3:18; 1 Pet. 2:2; Eph. 4:15).
Second, Job was described as a man that was upright. The root meaning of the word “upright” is “straight.” The idea conveyed is that Job did not deviate from the paths of righteousness. Job was careful to do as the Lord had commanded him and not to “turn aside to the right hand or to the led” (Deut. 5:32; 17:11). He wanted to walk in the way that God had selected (Jer. 6:16). He realized that those who follow the paths of unrighteousness “go to nothing, and perish” (Job. 6:18). Sadly, the friends of Job did not address him as an upright man (Job. 8:6). Job came to understand that sometimes “the just upright man is laughed to scorn” (Job. 12:4). Yet, Job continued to be upright in the sight of God. Today, God wants us to walk in the strait and narrow way “which leadeth unto life” (Matt. 7:13, 14). We must remember that, as in the case of Job, God “saveth the upright in heart” (Psa. 7:10) and that the “end of that man is peace” (Psa. 37:37).
Third, Job was described as a man that feared God. Job walked before God with reverence and awe. Job said, “Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job. 28:28). He understood that need for fearing God. Job feared God because of his great power, wisdom, and love, We must learn that if we want to be servants that please God, we must fear Him. Paul wrote, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Heb. 12:28; Eccl. 12:13).
Fourth, Job was described as one that eschewed evil. The word “eschewed” has reference to the fact that Job turned from evil. Job was a man that avoided the evil lusts of his day. He had avoided both vanity and deceit (Job. 31:5). He had not followed the lust of his own eyes or lusted after another woman (Job. 31:6–‐11). Job had pondered the path of his feet and avoided the pathway of sin. He had removed his “foot from evil” (Prov. 4:26, 27). As servants of God today, we must also eschew evil (1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:2). Peter wrote, “for he that would love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensure it” (1 Pet. 3:10, 11).
Job was a man whom God recommended. To the devil, God said, “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. 1:8). Job was a shining example of what it means to be a servant of God. May we strive to imitate this man that God recommended.