Removing Pride (Job 14)

In anguish, Job describes the condition of his life.  To paraphrase, he is saying, "My life of troubles is short and weak and I am nothing before God.  Because I am a sinner, nothing good can come from within me.  The boundaries of my life are set and as a slave I am bound to them."  Job's solution for his life is still death.  In death, he would avoid all the hurt, pain and wrath of God until the appointed time that God calls him again.  The Apostle Paul understood this quite well, but also recognized the importance and purpose for his life (Phil. 1:23-25).

This error of Job is caused by him being unable to see and understand the complete work and purpose of God for his life.  The trials that Job is experiencing are revealing to him the nature of his life and this revealing is also breaking away any independence that Job may have placed in himself.  Man's problem has always been that he thinks and acts like he is something and that he can live independent of God.  Job's children lived that way and his wife as well.  Because of Job's relationship with God, he continually submitted himself before him.  Through these trials, God is removing him from any self reliance that he may have.

In man, is a nature of rebellion and the cause of rebellion is pride.  As all of the law hangs on two commandments of God: loving him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself, so pride is at the root of every sin.  Trials are intended to break man of this prideful independence and to focus all praise and glory to God.

In the end, Job's testimony will bring glory to God and encouragement to countless believers.  He will resist his pride and pray for those that brought false accusations against him.  This victory is eventually what brings about his deliverance from the trials.

As Job, we need to allow God's perfect work to take place on our lives.  The trail may appear to be unjust, but we must remember that a righteous God always works righteousness.  Until we understand exactly what he is doing, we cannot grasp the righteousness behind his works.  For now, faith must carry us through.