A healthy self-examination!
Scripture reading for May 29th: Job 29-31
After all his friends were silent and their accusations ceased, Job was still suffering! He remembered his past time of blessing with a sense of joy. (Job 29) He was taunted by the young men of the city and then felt driven to do a self-examination and moral inventory. (Job 30:1) He had some inner convictions about what was good and evil. Job went over these convictions in a systematic way to be sure that he had not violated any of the things he knew were evil and that he had done those that were good. He was judging himself so that God would not judge him.
Job first dealt with his personal life. (Job 31:1-12) He was careful with his eyes, not to look lustfully on a woman. He stayed away from his neighbor’s wife. He knew that this would lead to trouble! He knew that sexual sin was something that God would judge! (Job 31:11) He also checked his honesty and truthfulness. God would weigh him with honest scales in this regard! (Job 31:5-6)
Job next dealt with his public life. (Job 31:13-23) He tested his heart for his treatment of his servants. Was he fair and respectful of them? He then looked to his treatment of the poor and orphan. Was he willing to give to help them with food and clothing? God was watching all of these and would judge! (Job 31:23)
Job also checked his spiritual life. (Job 31:24-40) How did he treat money? Was it a ‘god’ in his life? Did he secretly worship anything other than the God who created everything? He also checked his attitude about revenge. Vengeance belongs to the Lord–we must not get even or even rejoice over someone’s misfortune. How had he treated strangers? Were his motives pure in all that he did?
What an inventory! Take time today and allow this 4000 year-old inventory to give you insight into your own walk with God. Remember, Jesus Christ has already paid the penalty for our sins and if we confess them to Him, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all sin! (1st John 1:7-9)
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