“CURSE THE DAY OF MY BIRTH”

BY STEVE NIEMEIER

Job 3:1 tells us that this is what Job opened his mouth and said after he had lost his children, property and devleoped health issues all in a short period of time.  Job's friends came to be with him and at first showed compassion by lifting their voices and weeping as well as tearing their robes, sprinkling dust on the head of Job and sitting with him for seven days and nights without talking but just being their mourning with Job.  Later in the book of Job we find that they tired of the condition that Job was in and became very vocal of how he should change and curse God and die.

In our lives on this earth we may experience losing our children, maybe not physically but spiritually and it hurts when this happens.  Jesus knew this would happen and explained in Matthew 19:28-30 that the reward for staying faithful to Him through a situation such as losing our children to Satan would be an inheritance of eternal life.  While it is a very emotional and stressful issue, we must remember that we are to always be an example of faithfulness so that others yes even our unfaithful children can see Christ through us.

The retirement funds of many have been reduced greatly by the effects of the economy.  Job layoffs, plant shutdowns, business closings have had a major impact on just about every congregation of the Lord's people in our country.  Many business owners who have experienced wealth for some time now find themselves on the verge of losing everything.  The story of Job also tells of his loss of his income source.  Jesus also explains that this can happen in this life and that we should not put all our attention to financial or material things.  In His sermon on the mountain He stated in Matthew 6:19-20, that if we lay our treasures up here on earth that they could be stolen or they could rust therefore, we should lay our treasures up in heaven.

Job who seemed to be a healthy person was struck with health issues on top of losing his children and his income source.  Many in the church today are faced with health issues.  Terrible deseases, long term illnesses and age infirmities are just some of the health issues that members of the lord"s church are facing.  Parents trying to cope with special needs children and grown children trying to cope with special needs parents who once were a picture of health are challenging many menbers of the body of Christ.  Jesus also knew that burdens of life would wear us down physically and mentally.  However, He has provided hope for us when He tells us in Matthew 11:28-30 that He will give us rest.

It is sad to see that many are failing to endure through the hardships of this life, possibly failing to remember that this life is only temporary (Job 14:1-2) James tells us in James 5:11 that Job endured the hardships of his life and reminds us that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.  Let us not “curse the day we were born” but recognize that all of the teachings about the difficulties of this life are true, just as the words of comfort from Jesus that He will deliver us from these hardships and take us home to a place He has prepared for His faithful servants (John 14:1-4) are true.  Let us pray privately and together to God for endurance and strength to overcome the hardships of this life.

BIBLE TRIVIA

1.  Why did God put a mark on Cain?

1. So that everone would know he was the son of sinful parents.
2. So he could renter Eden without having to pay again.
3. To protect him from injury by others.
4. To signify him as “holy unto God.”
5. To remind everyone he cam in contact with that he was a murderer.

2.  How old was Adam when his third son, Seth, was born?

1. 130 years.
2. 865 years.
3. 417 years.
4. 58 years.