Job
20 reminds me of the misquoted verse, “Money is the root of all
evil”. Throughout history, class envy has been used to justify
every form of bad behavior. This philosophy has been used very
successfully to convince one group that they are oppressed by
another. Conflict between the “haves and the have-nots” fuels
many movements. In today’s chapter, Job’s friend continues the
same mean-spirited message; the wicked are punished by God, so you
are just receiving what you deserve. The chapter begins, “Zophar
the Naamathite replied… I am greatly disturbed… rebuke that
dishonors me… my understanding inspires me to reply“.
He clearly believes himself to be superior to Job and will take the
opportunity to enlighten his confused friend. One of the tricks of
debate is to give a point weight by stressing “everyone knows”.
He begins his attack, “Surely
you know how it has been from of old… that
the
mirth of the wicked is brief… the joy of the godless lasts but a
moment“.
He cleverly begins to link wealth with greed to smear Job. Whether
rich or poor, when we place the pursuit of wealth above the people in
our life, we will end up with regrets. 1 Timothy 6:10 actually
reads, “For
the
love of money
is a root of all kinds of evil“.
Get-rich-quick scams are so common because many people fall for
them!
Job’s
friend continues his lecture about the inevitable end of the wicked
man, continuously coming back to Job’s current state. “Though
his pride reaches to the heavens… he will perish forever… those
who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’”
He explains, a truth about wealth and death, we can’t take it with
us. He says, “his
own hands must give back his wealth.
The
youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie with him in the dust“.
Notice Zophar continues to link evil with wealth. “Evil
is sweet in his mouth… yet his food will turn sour in his stomach…
He will spit out the riches he swallowed.”
And again he makes a valid point. Accusations are most effective
when mixed with some truth. In the struggle to succeed we can miss
the simple pleasures around us, “He
will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream“.
Then he goes right back to his attack against Job. “For
he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized
houses he did not build“.
He ends his unsympathetic portrayal with a jab. “He
cannot save himself by his treasure“.
Zophar
concludes his rebuttal by restating his thesis; Job’s calamity is
proof that God punishes evil. “In
the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;
the
full force of misery will come upon him. When he has filled his
belly,
God
will vent his burning anger against him… Terrors will come over
him; total darkness lies in wait for his treasures.”
Zophar seems to be happy to see Job fall. Is he jealous of Job?
Are they business competitors? Why do we delight in other people’s
failure? Zophar ends with his pronouncement of Job’s fate. “The
heavens will expose his guilt; the earth will rise up against him…
Such
is the fate God allots the wicked“.
Here is the good news and the bad news for those who focus on
wealth. God’s forgiveness is free. We cannot earn it, we cannot
buy it and there is no waiting list. “Do
you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and
longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to
repentance?”
“For
there is no partiality with God”
(Roman’s 2:4,11).
Thankfully there is an endless demand and supply!