26/1/18 – Job 1, Job 2, Job 3 Matthew 18:10-35 Psalm 16:1-11

Job 1:22 – In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Here is something remarkable. First, Job didn’t sin. When things are going wrong, that’s often when the temptation to sin becomes strong. But as we mature we learn to deal with this. I’d hope that we are in that position we too, learn that sin is not the solution when we feel bad.

But Job did even better than this – he didn’t accuse God of wrong. How many of us have done that? “God, why are yo doing this to me? God do yo even care? God, how can you allow this?”. It’s greatly to be admired that Job lost everything and did not descend down this path.

We can learn a lot from his attitude.

Matt 18:15-17 – “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

This is, of course a very well known part of scripture. But it’s not very well followed. How many disagreements would be dealt with better if we did it the way Jesus told us to?

But often we don’t do this. Our first option is often step 3 – taking it to the church leadership. That’s meant to be the last resort – not the first port of call.

The problem is, when we have a dispute – we don’t really want a resolution, we want vindication. Often rather than see an issue sorted we want to be proven right. We want to win.

And if that’s the way we approach conflict – we will keep coming up against it. Wheras the better way is to seek forgiveness and gain a brother.

Ps 16:11 – You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Do you want to know the path for life? I know who has it. Do you want fullness of joy? I know here it comes from. Do you want pleasure behind your understanding? I know who gives it.

We can look in many places for these things – but we can only find them in The Lord. We can only find them in a relationship with God.

By all means keep looking in other places… but I can save you a lot of time. You won’t find them there. You’ll find them in Him.