Job chapter 31 reminds me that there is no quality more unattractive than self-righteousness. When someone holds them self up as more godly than everyone around them, they appear artificial and aloof. Job lists all of the things he has avoided in an attempt to defend his innocence. He begins, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl“. I believe it is fair to say that even the most corrupt and heinous human on earth could make a list of activities they do not take part in. Some of us make the same mistake; we forget God’s standard of righteousness is perfection. Job argues that he has been able to avoid sin, but to make his point, he must mischaracterize God. Job asks, “what is man’s lot from God?” and he answers, “Is it not ruin for the wicked?“. Everyone that believes they are holy because of their actions, in reality devalues the sacrifice of Christ. Galatians 3 plainly states, “no one is justified by the law” (3:10). The apostle explains that if the law could save, Christ died needlessly and he adds, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law” (3:13). Galatians 3:14 explains that we “receive the promise of the Spirit through faith“. Is your faith in God’s Mercy, or your own goodness?
Job continues his defense by hinting that God is not treating him fairly. “Let God weigh me in honest scales and He will know that I am blameless“.Job claims he is worthy and in doing so, he calls God either unjust, or missing some facts. Job continues with his checklist of sins he has avoided, “If I have walked in falsehood… If my heart has been enticed by a woman… If I have denied justice… If I have denied the desires of the poor“. Job has become the ultimate legalist, justifying himself before God with all the things he has not done wrong. Some people today make the same mistake. They judge themselves “spiritual” while looking down at other’s for not doing what they see as “godly acts”. Do you believe you are more Godly than another because you have avoided sin? Remember Luke chapter 5, the Pharisees condemned Jesus for eating with the “sinners”. Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance“. Honoring God means more than just avoiding things.
The chapter ends with Job continuation of his list, “If I have put my trust in gold… If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune… if I have concealed my sin as men do… then these also would be sins to be judged“. But then Job challenges God for bringing false accusations against him! “I sign now my defense let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put His indictment in writing… I would give Him an account of my every step; like a prince I would approach Him“. This illustrates the problem with trusting in our good works to make us worthy of God’s blessings. Job truly was an upright man according to God’s own words, but does this sound like someone that you would care to be around? He sounds like a holy-roller ready to swat you down for not being as spiritual and wonderful as he believes himself to be. The chapter ends with words meant to end the argument, “The words of Job are ended“. As we will read, Job speaks briefly again at the end of the book, but those words are spoken by a very different man after a true encounter with God. To those of us that have tried being good enough, Ephesians 2:8-9 are the most welcome words ever written. God’s forgiveness is a free gift that we cannot earn; we can only receive it by trusting God. These are words to live by! “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast“.