Facing financial loss

Prepared this for the offering exhortation tomorrow - July 5.

There was a man in the Bible whose name was Job. In a short time, he faced a great financial loss. He had lost all his material wealth, his home, his cattle, his sheep, his children and finally his health.

Are you in this situation now? A time of great financial distress which you are facing and you really do not know what to do. I would like to share with you the three things which Job did in a time of such severe trials that finally got him out of it.

1. Job kept on speaking right things about God throughout his financial loss

Job 42:7 "...you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has..."

God was actually listening in to the conversations between Job and his friends. God actually wanted to see what was in the hearts of Job and his friends for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 

All this while God had kept silent but He was not deaf. He was a silent listener, He was discerning the thoughts and intents of their hearts through the words that Job and his friends spoke. 

In our financial loss, the first thing we need to get right is to speak right about God.

Job's wife asked him to curse God and die but Job answered her "Shall we indeed accept good from God and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this, Job did not sin with his lips"

2. Job prayed for his friends.

After all the arguments, criticisms, comments and accusations, Job finally heard from God in Job 38 onwards. That was when he knew that his speech during his time of suffering was acceptable to God. 

What did God tell him to do for his fortunes to be restored? Pray for his friends.

Job 42:8 "Now therefore, take for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you..."

Its important for us to pray for others even during our time of suffering. Why did Job had to pray for his friends? After all the condemnation, accusations, criticisms, debates, arguments, self-justification, Job needed to forgive his three friends for speaking against him in such a manner.

Job had to bring all his resentment, bitterness and hurts against them before God. Job had to have a big heart towards those who spoke evil against him. Instead of  helping him, they made him even more depressed and sad. The prayer was needed to restore his emotional wholeness.

3. Job waited for God to act

Job 42:11 "Then all his brothers and sisters and all those who had been his acquaintances before......consoled and comforted him for the adversity that the Lord had brought upon Him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold"

I think if 100 people were to give Job one silver and one gold, he would have enough capital to start his life all over again!

But I wonder why they took so long to visit him and to bless him with the capital Job needed to restore his financial loss?

I can only think of one reason i.e. that the waiting time was necessary for God to test Job and his attitudes. God wanted to see what was actually in Job's heart all along. He wanted to teach Job the correct heart attitude toward God during trials and testings!

I also believe that prayer and right confession on the nature and character of God was more important to God than giving us rich financial blessings!

Let us pray together:

"LORD JESUS forgive us of any anger and bitterness against our friends and family members. We forgive all who have hurt us with their words and their actions during this time of financial distress. We intentionally release forgiveness to them today. Help us not to sin with our lips no matter how depressing our situation. We bless all our family and friends with wisdom, revelation, peace and joy and abundant opportunities to know You. We pray for them to be release from every bondage and deception of the mind. In Jesus Name. Amen"