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Job #2 Lessons On Stewardship Introduction: What do the following people have in common: Donald Trump, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Kim Bassinger, Mike Tyson, Mark Twain, Burt Reynolds, Gary Coleman, MC Hammer, Willie Nelson, Charles Goodyear, Milton Hershey, Wayne Newton, Mickey Rooney, Dorothy Hammill. They all filed for bankruptcy and some died broke. Paul Harvey once told of a man who lived on the streets of Las Vegas. He wasted many a dollar on the slot machines but one day he hit the jackpot and won a million dollars. Twenty four hours later he left that place without one penny. There are many stories of people having great wealth and losing everything. Joe Lewis the famous boxer died a pauper. How would we handle such circumstances? Let us look at Job to see what lessons we can learn. I) Job's Abundance A) Family, Job 1.2 1. Sons and daughters viewed as gifts from God, Psalm 127.5 2. Our society tends to view children as a burden but children were seen as security, lineage. B) He had great material possessions, Job 1.3 1. Wealth in many countries and in earlier generations was not in stocks and bonds but in material possessions. 2. Today we would talk about investments. C) His health, Ecc. 12.1 II) Job Loses It All In One Day A) Material devastation, Job 1.13-17 1. Everything was gone because of bad people and acts of nature. 2. Think of the story of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10.30 B) Family was killed, Job 1.18-20 1. The cruelty of death can be especially seen when a parent looses a child (no one to blame) 2. Children die of crib deaths, traffic accidents, illnesses, etc. C) Even his health was taken away, Job 2.7-8 1. Truth is none of us know what the future holds and how our health will hold up. 2. Some of my cousins have all ready passed away, others are in poor health. 3. Children often end up having to take their parents to the doctor as the roles are reversed. 4. Strong men have been brought low by health problems. A few years ago my brother had back surgery and had trouble walking 5 feet. 5. Time by itself will deplete us of our abilities, Ecc. 12-2-5 II) What We Learn From Job, 1.20-22 A) The vanity or temporary nature of life 1. Everything in life is brief, Psalm 144.4. a. Make a wish foundation seeks to give terminally ill children a little happiness before their life ends. b. How sad to think that the happiness of the child is temporary but are we really any different? 2. Various passages teach us that all in life is temporary, Ecc. 1.2, 14; 2.1, 11, 15,17, 19, 21; 4.16; 6.4. a. Where are Solomon's vineyards, gardens, and buildings. b. Our childhood was for a moment, our children being babies was just for a moment, material possessions, and life itself is brief, Isaiah 40.6-8a. 3. Few things will endure, God's word is one that will, Isaiah 40.8b. a. Your soul is eternal, Ecc. 3.11 b. Fact: to try and find anything everlasting in that which is temporary is vanity. B) Job understood stewardship, Job 1.21 1. God gives us resources to accomplish His goals. 2. The blessings we receive in life are good, 1 Timothy 4.1-5 a. We need to be thankful for what we have, while we have it. b. Too many take for granted their blessings. 3. There are problems with stewardship a. Covetousness (an inordinate desire for more than what one has), Luke 12.15 i. Job did not have this problem but some do, 1 Timothy 6.9-10. b. Wastefulness, we don't use what we have wisely -- 1 Corinthians 4.1-4 i. Creates more powerful, Luke 16.10-11 4. We are to use what we have with a purpose, 1 Timothy 6.17-19 a. Money can either help you go to heaven or hell. It all depends on how we use it. b. Story of woman who lived a pauper. Every day she went to the same restaurant and ordered a glass of water. One day the owner charged her for the water. She had a heart attack arguing over the bill. It turned out she was a millionaire. 5. We possess many things but own nothing, Ecc. 5.15 a. What we have will eventually belong to someone else. b. I don't know who owned the buffet in our living room and don't really care. IV) Consider Jobs Answer, 2.10 A) Bless God and praise Him now. 1. If you are poor you should worship God; if you are rich you should worship God. a. Don't wait for "one of those days" or "When I get..." before you start serving God. b. Hell will be full of people that was waiting for a later time. 2. The young and old are to serve God. B) Keep your priorities straight 1. Be honest enough to face the challenges of life. 2. Would you rather be rich or poor? 3. Our priorities will determine what we do when we face the unexpected. (Keith Gough) a. God is more important than -- your health, family, and material possessions. b. You don't always get your druthers. Conclusion: John 14.1-6 heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people?
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