Author: Saju Joseph

Difficult one

Following Job’s lamentations and questionings about his circumstances, one might expect that God would finally provide a detailed justification or explanation for Job’s suffering and losses.

Instead, to our surprise, God responds by launching into an extensive series of rhetorical questions.

It’s like receiving punishment from your father for what seems like no reason, and when you ask him why, instead of explaining, he responds by discussing his authority, position, and everything he has provided for the family.

This approach may seem puzzling at first, but there’s a deeper purpose behind it

…

1. To highlight the vast gap between divine and human knowledge

In the earlier chapters, Job questions God’s justice and makes repeated demands for an explanation of his suffering. Throughout the book, Job has expressed his belief that his afflictions are unjust, saying things like:

• “Show me where I have erred” (6:24)

• “Why have you made me your target?” (7:20)

• “I am innocent, yet God denies me justice” (throughout chapters 9-10)

• “I desire to argue my case with God” (13:3)

In chapter 31, Job presents a comprehensive defense of his righteousness, challenging God to answer him and explain why such suffering has befallen someone who has lived virtuously.

God’s response in chapters 38-39 doesn’t directly address Job’s specific complaints, but instead reframes the entire conversation by highlighting the vast difference between human and divine knowledge, wisdom, and power.

God opens His response to Job with a powerful declaration: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me” (38:2-3).

Kon hai tu?

—the contrast between limited human knowledge and God’s infinite wisdom. God’s questions to Job reveal this knowledge gap in several ways:

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” (38:4). Job wasn’t present at creation and lacks the perspective to understand God’s purposes from beginning to end.

God asks about controlling lightning, storing snow, and directing rain – all natural processes beyond human control or complete understanding.

God isn’t trying to make Job feel small or stupid. Instead, He’s helping Job see things differently.

While our human understanding is valuable, it has clear limits because we’re confined to time and space, unlike God, who exists beyond these limitations.

It’s like we’re placed in a square room with just one window. What we see is limited. We might observe a dog chasing a boy and draw many conclusions about what’s happening, but we can never know the complete truth until we step outside that room and see beyond that single window’s perspective.

Gospel

The same vast gap between divine and human wisdom that we see in God’s response to Job is also powerfully displayed throughout the Gospel narratives. Consider these examples:

• The disciples repeatedly misunderstood Jesus’ mission, expecting a political Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule, while Jesus knew He came to establish a spiritual kingdom (Mark 10:35-45)

• Peter rebuked Jesus for predicting His own death, prompting Jesus to respond, “Get behind me, Satan! You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Mark 8:31-33)

• The religious leaders, despite their theological expertise, failed to recognize God incarnate in their midst (John 1:10-11)

• The disciples were confused by Jesus’ teaching that the first shall be last and the last first (Matthew 20:16)

Jesus Himself emphasized this wisdom gap when He prayed, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children” (Matthew 11:25)

Paul later articulated this profound truth in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, explaining that “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” The cross itself—God’s ultimate solution to human suffering and sin— appeared as foolishness to human wisdom.

This Gospel perspective reinforces what Job learned: that divine wisdom operates on a plane far beyond human understanding, and that salvation comes not through comprehending God’s ways fully, but through trusting the God whose ways transcend our understanding.

Application: When faced with suffering or injustice, we naturally demand explanations.

These chapters remind us that our perspective is limited. This doesn’t mean we should stop seeking understanding, but it calls us to humility – recognizing that some divine purposes may remain beyond our comprehension in this life.

2. To reveal that creation operates on principles beyond mere human justice and retribution

“Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me! Let my accuser write out the charges against me.” (Job 31:35)

This was Job’s boldest statement, essentially demanding that God appear in court to justify the suffering inflicted on him. Job was so confident in his innocence that he signed his name to his defense and challenged God to respond with specific charges against him.

In chapters 38-39, God does respond – but not with the legal proceeding Job expected.

Instead of addressing Job’s specific complaints or explaining why he suffered, God shifts the entire framework of the conversation.

God demonstrates that Job’s expectation for divine justification based on human standards of justice was fundamentally misguided.

One of the most profound insights from God’s speech to Job is that don’t you see creation doesn’t always follow the simple cause-and-effect relationship that humans expect, that righteousness leads to prosperity while wickedness leads to suffering.

Consider God’s descriptions of:

• The rain that falls “on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man” (38:26) – God’s provision extends beyond human need or desert

• The ostrich that “deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers” (39:16). Animal behavior that seems illogical or even cruel by human standards

• The hawk that “soars by your wisdom” (39:26) – Natural instincts that operate according to divine design rather than human instruction

These examples demonstrate that creation follows God’s wisdom rather than human expectations of justice.

Javed Akhtarʼs observation:

Have you noticed there is no concept of justice among animals in the natural world? They hunt, kill, and consume one another according to their instincts and survival needs, without any moral judgment being applied to their actions. The predator isn’t considered “evil” for catching its prey, nor is the prey viewed as “innocent” or “deserving of protection.” Animals simply follow the natural order established at creation, operating within ecological systems designed by God, and no creature faces punishment or moral condemnation for fulfilling its natural role in this divinely orchestrated balance of nature.

The universe isn’t organized primarily around human concerns or moral categories. The lion hunts prey not because the prey deserves punishment, but because God has designed an ecological system with predators and prey.

God describes animals whose behaviors puzzle human observers, demonstrating that even within the observable world, much remains mysterious.

Application: When we face suffering, we often instinctively ask, “What did I do to deserve this?” God’s speech suggests this may be the wrong question. Instead of always seeking moral causes for our circumstances, we might better ask, “How can I encounter God within this situation?”

Job’s suffering was not a punishment for sin, but instead became the context for a deeper revelation of God’s character and wisdom. Similarly, our sufferings may serve purposes within God’s creation that transcend simple moral causality.

3. To invite Job into a relationship based on trust rather than understanding

Throughout God’s response to Job, we see an invitation to trust rather than merely understand. This is evident in several ways:

• God’s questions don’t provide explanations for Job’s suffering but redirect his focus to the trustworthiness of the Creator

• God reveals His intimate knowledge and care for creation, suggesting that this same care extends to Job despite appearances
• Rather than defending His justice in abstract terms, God demonstrates His wisdom through concrete examples of provision
• God doesn’t rebuke Job for his questions but invites him into a deeper contemplation of divine wisdom

The essence of God’s response is captured in His repeated refrain: “Do you know?” and “Can you?” These questions aren’t meant to shame Job but to lead him toward a profound realization: even without understanding the “why” behind his suffering, Job can trust the “who” – the God whose wisdom orchestrates the universe.

This invitation to a relationship transforms Job’s experience.

Before God speaks, Job demands answers and justification. After encountering God’s wisdom, Job declares, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you” (42:5).

The transformation isn’t from ignorance to knowledge but from knowledge about God to knowing God personally.

Gospel Connection: The Gospel narrative itself invites us into a relationship based on trust rather than complete understanding in several profound ways:

• Jesus frequently taught in parables that puzzled even His closest disciples, who often asked, “Explain this parable to us” (Matthew 13:36). Rather than making His teaching immediately clear, Jesus used stories that required reflection and trust.
• When Thomas demanded physical proof of the resurrection, Jesus gently responded, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” John 20:29), highlighting the value of faith that transcends empirical verification.
• In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus modeled trust amidst suffering when He prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42), choosing submission to the Father’s wisdom rather than demanding to understand the necessity of His suffering.

“We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

“Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Ultimately, the Cross itself stands as the supreme example of God’s invitation to trust beyond understanding. To human wisdom, “the word of the cross is folly” (1 Corinthians 1:18), yet through this seemingly foolish means, God accomplishes our salvation. We are invited not to fully comprehend how Christ’s death atones for our sins, but to trust that it does.

Application: In our suffering, we often prioritize explanation over relationship. We demand to know why God allows pain, assuming that understanding would bring comfort.

God’s response to Job suggests that even complete theological understanding wouldn’t satisfy our deepest need, which is for God Himself.

Rather than exhaustive explanations, God offers His presence and the invitation to trust His wisdom even when it remains partially veiled to us.

True comfort comes not from having all our questions answered but from knowing the One who holds all answers.

Conclusion

When faced with life’s inevitable sufferings and questions, we can apply several key principles from God’s response to Job:

1. Embrace Mystery as Part of Faith

God never condemns Job for asking questions, but He does invite him to recognize the limitations of human understanding. In our information-saturated age, we often demand complete explanations. True wisdom includes the humility to acknowledge that some aspects of God’s ways remain mysterious to us. This isn’t a call to blind faith but to a mature faith that can hold both questioning and trusting together.

2. Find Comfort in God’s Detailed Care

Notice how intimately God knows each creature He describes—from the lion’s hunting patterns to the eagle’s nesting habits. This same God who attends to the needs of wild animals surely attends to our needs with even greater care. When we feel forgotten in our suffering, we can remember that the God who counts the stars also counts our tears.

Jesus beautifully illustrates this principle in the Sermon on the Mount when He says, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

(Matthew 6:26). Similarly, He points to “the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” (Matthew 6:28-29). Through these natural examples, Jesus reinforces the same truth God revealed to Job—that the Creator who attends to the smallest details of nature surely cares for His human creation with even greater attentiveness and love.

3. Shift from “Why?” to “Who?”

Job began by asking why he suffered. God redirects him to consider who governs the universe. This shift doesn’t trivialize our questions but places them in a larger context. Rather than fixating on explanations that may elude us, we can anchor ourselves in the character of God revealed throughout Scripture and creation.

4. Seek God’s Presence, Not Just Answers

The ultimate resolution to Job’s suffering wasn’t an explanation but an encounter. God’s presence, not His explanations, brought Job peace.

In our struggles, the deepest comfort comes not from having all our questions answered but from experiencing God’s presence amid our questions.

In the end, what Job received was greater than the answers he sought—he received God Himself. And this is the great promise extended to us as well. Our unanswered questions may remain, but they need not prevent us from experiencing the presence of the God who holds all wisdom and who invites us into a relationship with Him.

Let us respond as Job eventually did—not with continued demands for explanation, but with humble worship of the God whose wisdom permeates every aspect of creation, including our own lives with their joys and sorrows.

• The book of Job presents one of the Bible’s most profound explorations of human suffering.
• No other book in the Bible explores suffering with such profound depth.
• It uniquely provides both an earthly and heavenly perspective on suffering.

In earlier chapters, we witnessed an intense debate between Job and his three friends: Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.

Last Sunday, we examined Job’s final response to these friends—his oath of clearance.

Today, in chapters 32-37, a fourth friend named Elihu enters the conversation.

Who is Elihu? – Job 32:1-5

“So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.” (Job 32:1- 5, ESV)

• Appears to be youthful, angry, somewhat arrogant, and somewhat boastful
• Though Elihu is introduced as a new voice in chapter 32, his theological approach shares significant overlap with Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar:

Similar theological framework – Like the three friends, Elihu believes that people suffer because they sin. He thinks bad things happen to those who do wrong.

Similar accusations against Job – Though his language is sometimes gentler,

Elihu essentially repeats many of the same charges, accusing Job of arrogance, self-righteousness, and rebellion against God.

Similar defense of God’s justice – Elihu, like the other friends, cares more about defending God’s fairness than actually helping Job feel better.

• In past sermons we’ve discussed these approaches extensively and learned what the Bible teaches on these matters.
• Today, I want to focus on common mistakes Christians make when responding to suffering through Elihu’s example—mistakes that still persist in our churches.

In any case, you’ll notice that when God finally speaks, He addresses and corrects the three friends (Job 42:7-9), but remains silent about Elihu.

• Though Elihu may have been well-intentioned in his remarks, he missed the mark.

Today, we’ll examine four critical mistakes Elihu made – mistakes we often repeat when trying to comfort those in pain.

1. He assumed he fully understood God’s Purposes

Elihu repeatedly claimed to know exactly why Job was suffering:

“I tell you, in this you are not right… Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one’s words? For God does speak—now one way, now another though no one perceives it.” (Job 33:12-14)

Elihu presumed to know God’s exact purposes in allowing suffering.

Consider how Elihu claims to speak for God in Job 36:2-4: “Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf. I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker. For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.”

Elihu repeatedly assumes he knows exactly why Job suffers and what God is doing, despite having no direct revelation from God. He presumes to understand divine purposes that even Job himself doesn’t comprehend.

How often do we make the same mistake? We say things like

“God is teaching you patience,”

“This happened because God wants you to minister to others with the same affliction. ˮ

While these may sometimes be true, doesn’t Scripture teach that God’s thoughts far exceed our understanding?

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

• It’s like a three-year-old trying to understand quantum physics.
• Even a three-year-old trying to understand quantum physics has a smaller knowledge gap than the one between our understanding and God’s wisdom.
• When our children are young, they cannot understand why parents won’t let them eat candy for dinner.
• From a child’s limited perspective, parents seem cruel, but the reality is that adults understand nutrition in ways children simply can’t grasp.

Gospel Connection:

• Jesus himself demonstrated this truth in Gethsemane when he prayed,

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

• Even Jesus, in his human nature, didn’t fully comprehend all the Father’s purposes in his suffering, yet he trusted.
• Our response should be the same – humble trust rather than presumed understanding.

2. He prioritized Defending God Over Comforting Job

Elihu was deeply concerned with defending God’s justice:

“Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong” (Job 34:10). While his theological concern was valid, Elihu’s defense of God came at the expense of compassion for Job.

He was more interested in winning a theological argument than comforting a suffering brother.

“Does he need your help? Is it for his benefit that you try to make things right? Does God need you to defend his ways? Will you plead the Almighty’s case?” (Job 13:7-8)

The Bible clearly addresses the question of whether humans need to defend God.

In Job 13:7-8, Job directly challenges his friends, questioning whether God needs their defense.

This passage reminds us that our attempts to defend God often say more about our own insecurities than about God’s character.

When we rush to explain suffering or defend God’s actions, we may actually misrepresent Him, as Job’s friends did.

God later rebukes them, saying, “You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has” (Job 42:7).

True comfort comes not from defending God’s reputation but from embodying His compassion.

• . When people suffer, they need our presence more than our explanations.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15)

Question: When a brother or sister loses a loved one, can a theological explanation about God’s sovereignty really help them?

In times of deep distress, they don’t need a lecture on God’s will.

They need someone to sit with them and acknowledge that their loss is horrible.

The people who demonstrate Christ-like love are those who simply show up, bring meals, and cry with them.

Gospel Connection:

Jesus didn’t come with mere theological explanations for our suffering – he entered into it.

John 11:35 tells us simply, “Jesus wept” at Lazarus’s tomb, even though he knew he would raise Lazarus.

Christ’s incarnation itself demonstrates that God prioritizes presence with the suffering over abstract explanations.

The gospel reminds us that God doesn’t stand aloof from our pain but enters into it fully.

3. He Confuses Youthful Passion With Spiritual Maturity

Elihu began his speech acknowledging his youth but claiming special insight:

“I am young in years, and you are old… But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.” (Job 32:6-8)

He then proclaimed: “I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me” (Job 32:18). Elihu confused his passionate feelings with divine inspiration.

Scripture values wisdom gained through experience:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

“Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” (Proverbs 16:31)

When we’re young, it’s easy to look at another person’s situation and believe we know everything about how to help them.

We might be single yet believe we understand everything about marriage, or be in perfect health and claim to understand what it means to be sick and hospitalized. From this position, we confidently give “godly advice” on trusting God for help and healing.

But the truth is that life isn’t as simple as we imagine. Only when we’re married do we realize how challenging it can be, especially when confronting our own sinfulness.

Similarly, only when we or someone in our family falls ill do we truly understand how difficult such situations can be.

Illustration:

It’s easy to approach a grieving brother or sister with memorized Bible verses when they are in trouble, or to lecture them on why God allowed their suffering.

When we reflect on our responses later, we often realize how shallow and harmful our “comfort” had been. Our passion wasn’t matched by maturity.

What that brother or sister would have appreciated most was simply our presence and our kind words of affirmation and encouragement. Did we give that?

Gospel Connection:

Jesus grew in “wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). Even the Son of God experienced a maturation process in his human nature.

The gospel reminds us that spiritual growth is a journey.

Christ’s example teaches us that true wisdom comes through patient development, not instant passion.

4. He Oversimplifies the Relationship Between Sin and Suffering

Like Job’s other friends, Elihu maintained that suffering must be connected to sin: “If they are bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction, then he tells

them what they have done— that they have sinned arrogantly.” (Job 36:8-9) This oversimplification overlooks the complexity of suffering in a fallen world.

“As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.'” (John 9:1-3)

We have emphasized repeatedly that Christian suffering is not necessarily a result of sin.

Is it true that people sometimes suffer due to sin? Yes, of course. But is sin the cause of all suffering, especially in the life of a child of God? The answer is no.

Illustration: A young mother in our church was diagnosed with cancer despite living a faithful Christian life. Some well-meaning believers suggested she must have unconfessed sin or lack of faith. These simplistic explanations only added to her pain. Her testimony through suffering ultimately brought many to Christ – demonstrating that God’s purposes are far more complex than simple cause-and-effect.

Gospel Connection: The cross stands as the ultimate refutation of the idea that suffering always indicates sin in the sufferer. Jesus, the only sinless human,

experienced the most unjust suffering imaginable. The gospel reminds us that in a fallen world, the righteous often suffer while awaiting final redemption. Jesus didn’t promise his followers exemption from suffering but promised to be with

them through it.

Conclusion: A Better Way to Respond

So how should we respond to suffering Christians? Let me suggest four alternatives to Elihu’s approach:

Practice humble presence – Simply be there, acknowledging that you don’t have all the answers but offering your presence as comfort.

Listen more than you speak – James 1:19 reminds us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak.” Let the suffering person express their pain without rushing to respond.

Comfort with Scripture wisely – Share God’s promises without presuming to know exactly how they apply to this specific situation.

Point to the suffering Christ – Remind them that Jesus understands suffering intimately and that the gospel promises ultimate redemption of all pain.

The book of Job reminds us that in the face of suffering, theological explanations often fall short. What remains is the faithful presence of God and his people. As we seek to comfort those in pain, may we avoid Elihu’s mistakes and instead embody the compassionate presence of Christ himself.

Summary of Job so far

• Job is introduced as a blameless and upright man who fears God.
• He is wealthy with seven sons, three daughters, and large herds of livestock.
• Satan challenges God, claiming Job only serves God because of his blessings.
• God allows Satan to test Job by taking away his possessions and children.
• Despite losing everything, Job maintains his faith and does not sin against God.
• Satan again challenges God, claiming Job would curse God if his health was affected.
• God permits Satan to afflict Job with painful sores.
• Job’s wife tells him to curse God and die, but Job remains faithful.
• Three friends – Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar – come to comfort him and sit with him in silence for seven days.
• After seven days, Job breaks the silence by cursing the day of his birth.
• He questions why he was born and expresses his deep anguish, wishing he had died at birth rather than face such suffering.
• He describes death as a place where the weary find rest.
• Eliphaz, the first friend to speak, suggests that Job’s suffering must be due to sin, as the innocent don’t perish.
• He claims to have received a vision confirming that no human can be more righteous than God.
• He implies that Job should acknowledge his sin and seek God’s forgiveness.
• Eliphaz continues his speech, advising Job to appeal to God.
• He argues that suffering is a form of divine discipline and that if Job accepts this correction, God will restore him.
• He presents a simplistic view that good people prosper while the wicked suffer, suggesting Job should humble himself before God to receive restoration.

Summary of Job Chapter

In chapter 6, Job responds to Eliphaz’s speech with raw honesty about his
suffering:

Expresses the intensity of his pain

Job 6:1-4 (ESV):

“Then Job answered and said: ‘Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash. For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.'”

Job is expressing that his grief and anguish are so great that if placed together on a scale, it would be heavier than the sand of the seas

I also know my words have been rash and wild.

Itʼs because it feels like Godʼs poisoned arrows are in me, draining my spirit

The sores afflicting Job were painful skin lesions or boils – severe skin infections that caused intense physical suffering. They covered his entire body “from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” (Job 2:7). These sores would have been open wounds or ulcers that caused constant pain, itching, and discomfort.

I remember when I was a child, I had chicken pox on my body. Anybody here? – It was a terrible experience. My mom would cover us with need leaves, wipe our open wounds with warm water.

Job was so afflicted that he “took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes” (Job 2:8), showing how desperate he was to find relief from the physical torment of these sores.

• In verses 5-7, he defends his right to express the pain – it is natural

Job 6:5-7 (ESV):

“Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder? Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow? My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me.”

Job uses two powerful analogies here to justify his complaints:

1. Animals only cry out when they lack food, suggesting his complaints come from real distress
2. Just as bland food needs salt to be palatable, his suffering needs expression to be processed

• In verses 8-13, he hopes to find comfort, not from being alive, but from death

“Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope, that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off! This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One. What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient? Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?”

1. He sees death as release from pain: Job views death not as an escape, but as the only relief from his unbearable suffering. He even says he would “exult in pain unsparing” if it meant final release.
2. Still maintains faith while wanting death: Even in wishing for death, Job carefully notes that he “has not denied the words of the Holy One” – showing his desire for death isn’t rebellion against God.
3. Acknowledges human limitations: Through rhetorical questions about his strength, Job acknowledges he isn’t made of stone or bronze – he’s human with limited endurance for suffering.

This passage shows Job’s raw honesty before God – he doesn’t pretend to be stronger than he is or hide his desire for relief through death. Yet even in this dark wish, he maintains his integrity and faith.

• In verses 13-30, he expresses disappointment over his friends. In verses 13-30, Job delivers a powerful critique of his friends’ response to his suffering:
• Betrayal of friendship (v.14-17):

Job 6:14-17 (ESV):

“He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away, which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself. When they melt, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place.”

Job compares his friends to unreliable streams that disappear when needed most – flowing in winter but dry in summer heat when travelers desperately need water

• Deep disappointment (v.18-21):

Job 6:18-21 (ESV):

“The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish. The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope. They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed. For you have now become nothing; you see my calamity and are afraid.”

He describes how caravans search hopefully for these streams only to find them dry – just as he looked hopefully to his friends for comfort but found none.

• Not asking for much (v.22-23):

Job 6:22-23 (ESV):
“Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’? Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’? Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’?”
Job points out that he hasn’t asked them for money or rescue from enemies – he only wanted genuine comfort and understanding

• Challenge to show his error (v.24-27):

Job 6:24-27 (ESV):
“Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray. How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove? Do you think that you can reprove words when the speech of a despairing man is wind? You would even cast lots over the fatherless and bargain over your friend.”

Job invites them to point out his actual sins if they can find any, rather than making vague accusations. He criticizes how they dismiss his words as “wind” while attacking a desperate man.

• Appeal for justice (v.28-30):

Job 6:28-30 (ESV):
“But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face. Please turn; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake. Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?”

He ends by asking them to look at him directly and judge if he’s lying. He asserts his integrity and ability to discern right from wrong despite his suffering. In the light of the pain and anguish Job is experiencing, I want us to reflect on our lives today.

I donʼt know where you are right now, but hereʼs perhaps some of the scenarios that you are facing in your life today.

• Perhaps you are experiencing intense physical pain and suffering right now— pain that has lingered in your body for years and only seems to grow worse with time. Maybe it’s due to sin, or perhaps it’s part of a spiritual battle like Job’s. The pain and anguish feel heavier than all the sand in the sea, as if God’s poisoned arrows are piercing your body, draining your soul and spirit.
• Or perhaps the pain isn’t physical—maybe it’s watching your loved one endure intense suffering. You feel helpless, unable to ease their misery. Your pleas to God seem to go nowhere, as though He doesn’t care, as if He has turned His face away. You desperately want to help but don’t know what to do.
• Or perhaps you are sick, and watching your loved ones experience sorrow and distress over your condition is tearing you apart inside.
• Or maybe the pain isn’t physical—it’s mental anguish. Perhaps you’re struggling to maintain relationships with your loved ones (husband, wife…), and no matter how hard you try, things seem to get worse each day. Maybe the anguish comes from being separated from someone you love—you desperately wish to be with them, but circumstances keep you apart, and the distance and loneliness are consuming you.
• Maybe your pain comes from watching a loved one drift away from the Lord— despite your many attempts to guide them back, they seem to move further and further from their faith.
• Maybe you are experiencing pain and anguish in your workplace—no matter how hard and sincerely you work, your efforts go unnoticed. Perhaps someone else in the organization is taking credit for your work and receiving promotions you deserve. Perhaps you are suffering from office politics and favoritism. Or maybe you are struggling to find a fulfilling and rewarding job, and you have reached a point where you have given up hope.
• Perhaps in your pain and anguish, you’ve been speaking rash, wild, and foolish words to yourself and others

And above all …

• Perhaps, in all your pain and anguish, you’re feeling desperately lonely — perhaps there’s no one you can talk to. Or perhaps you do have people around, but they either show up at the wrong time or say things that hurt instead of comfort, like Job’s friends. Or perhaps you’re surrounded by genuine friends who truly care for you, who show up at the right time and constantly encourage and pray for you, but you’re unable to receive it—your heart is closed to counsel and prayer. Perhaps your pain has made you stubborn and has dried up your faith in God and in people.

I don’t know where you are right now, but I know one thing with unshaken
confidence: whether you choose to believe it or not—and I urge you to believe— God has not left you. He is not absent from your life. He is closer than you think.

• Just like when he was with Abraham, who left his home, wandered in a foreign land, and struggled to believe whether god would bless him with an offspring
• Just like Moses, away from his family, struggling to believe whether god would keep his promise of rescuing his people
• Just like Joseph, in the pit and in prison, wondering if god had forgotten him and if his dreams would ever come true
• Just like David, running from Saul, hiding in caves, questioning whether he would ever see the kingship god promised him
• Just like Daniel, in the lions’ den, trusting god even when facing certain death
• Just like Paul, in chains and imprisoned, suffering persecution yet holding onto his faith in god’s greater purpose
• Just like Ruth, who lost everything but remained faithful, not knowing how god would provide for her future

He is Sovereign God, and he knows what he is doing

But here’s the greatest comfort we have – Jesus Christ, our truest and most faithful friend, who knows our pain intimately:

• Jesus experienced the deepest human suffering – He was betrayed, abandoned, tortured, and crucified. He understands our pain not from a distance but from personal experience

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet
without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15

• Unlike Job’s friends, Jesus never fails us. He promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” and He keeps His word
• Through His death and resurrection, Jesus offers us not just temporary comfort but eternal hope – a hope that transcends our current suffering

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

The gospel brings us these precious promises:

1. Our suffering is not meaningless – Christ redeems every tear and pain for His glory and our good
2. We are never alone – The Holy Spirit, our Comforter, dwells within us, interceding for us with groans too deep for words
3. Our present sufferings are temporary – They cannot compare to the glory that will be revealed in us
4. We have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses – Jesus invites us to come boldly to His throne of grace to find help in times of need

Even when we feel like Job – overwhelmed, misunderstood, and in deep anguish – Jesus remains our unwavering friend who sticks closer than a brother. He doesn’t dismiss our pain or offer empty platitudes. Instead, He walks with us through the valley of shadows, holding us close to His heart until we reach the other side.

Let me conclude with this powerful truth: No matter how deep your suffering, how heavy your burden, or how lonely your path may feel, you have a friend in Jesus who understands completely. He’s not a distant observer but an ever-present help in trouble.

Where Job’s friends failed, Jesus succeeded. Where human comfort falls short, His presence sustains. You may not understand why you’re going through what you’re experiencing right now, but you can trust the One who holds your future in His hands.

Remember, your current season of suffering is not the end of your story. Just as Job’s latter days were blessed more than his beginning, God is working even now – through your pain, through your tears, through your questions – to accomplish His perfect will in your life.

Let us pray with confidence, knowing that we approach not an indifferent deity but a loving Father who gave His only Son for us. In your deepest valleys, may you find strength in this truth: You are never alone, for you have a friend so faithful in Jesus Christ.

This sermon is part of the sermon series “God’s Blessing through Suffering”

Job was a righteous man who feared God and had been blessed with wealth, children, and good health.

• Job loses his children and wealth
• His wife tells him to curse God and die
• Three friends come to comfort him
• They sit in silence with him for seven days

The Reality
Every human experiences suffering in some form – physical pain, emotional distress, loss of loved ones, financial hardships, or spiritual struggles. It’s a universal part of the human experience that connects us all.

In times of suffering, we often feel isolated and alone, but Job’s story reminds us that even the most righteous people face intense trials.

Today’s passage – After losing his children, wealth, and health, Job breaks his seven-day silence with an outpouring of anguish and lament.

1. Job Expressing The Weight of His Suffering (Job 3:1-10)

After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said:

“Let the day perish on which I was born,
and the night that said,
‘A man is conceived.’
Let that day be darkness!
May God above not seek it,

nor light shine upon it.
Let gloom and deep darkness claim it.
Let clouds dwell upon it;
let the blackness of the day terrify it.
That night—let thick darkness seize it!
Let it not rejoice among the days of the year;
let it not come into the number of the months.
Behold, let that night be barren;
let no joyful cry enter it.
Let those curse it who curse the day,
who are ready to rouse up Leviathan.
Let the stars of its dawn be dark;
let it hope for light, but have none,
nor see the eyelids of the morning,
because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb,
nor hide trouble from my eyes.”

Job curses the day of his birth, wishing he had never been born.

• He curses the day of his birth
• He wishes for darkness to claim that day
• He expresses deep regret for his existence

Imagine the intensity of his pain – unbelievable pai

• He longs for complete non-existence rather than facing his current pain
• He views his birth as a tragic event that brought him into suffering
• He sees life itself as a burden too heavy to bear

2. Job Questions the Purpose of his existence (Job 3:11-19)

“Why did I not die at birth,
come out from the womb and expire?
Why did the knees receive me?
Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?
For then I would have lain down and been quiet;
I would have slept; then I would have been at rest,
with kings and counselors of the earth
who rebuilt ruins for themselves,
or with princes who had gold,
who filled their houses with silver.
Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child,
as infants who never see the light?
There the wicked cease from troubling,
and there the weary are at rest.
There the prisoners are at ease together;
they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.
The small and the great are there,
and the slave is free from his master.”

Job questions why he was given life if it would lead to such suffering.

• He ponders why he didn’t die at birth
• He observes how death brings rest to all people
• He notes how suffering ends in the grave

3. Job Questions why God gives suffering (Job 3:20-
26)

“Why is light given to him who is in misery,
and life to the bitter in soul,
who long for death, but it comes not,
and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,
who rejoice exceedingly
and are glad when they find the grave?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,
whom God has hedged in?
For my sighing comes instead of my bread,
and my groanings are poured out like water.
For the thing that I fear comes upon me,
and what I dread befalls me.
I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
I have no rest, but trouble comes.”

In verses 20-26, Job grapples with one of the most profound theological questions: why does God allow suffering to continue?

• He acknowledges God’s sovereignty over life and suffering
• He wrestles with the paradox of God giving life yet allowing misery
• He expresses the futility felt by those trapped in cycles of pain

The Reality of Pain in the Christian Life

• Faith doesn’t exempt us from suffering

Scripture provides many examples of faithful people experiencing suffering:

• David’s psalms of lament (Psalm 13:1-2): “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”
• Paul’s thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-9): “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this… But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you'”
• Jesus in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:38): “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death”
• Jeremiah’s struggles (Lamentations 3:1-3): “I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath”

These examples demonstrate that even those closest to God experienced deep suffering while maintaining their faith.

• God allows space for genuine lament

The Bible offers numerous examples of lament and crying out to God:

• “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” (Psalm 22:1)
• “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1)
• Pain can coexist with deep faith

As people of the new covenant, we ought to look at suffering through the lens of the Gospel.

How the Gospel Transforms Our Pain

The gospel doesn’t eliminate our pain, but it reframes it in several powerful ways:

• Jesus experienced human suffering, demonstrating God’s empathy
• The cross shows that God can bring purpose out of pain
• The resurrection promises ultimate restoration
• Our suffering is temporary in light of eternal hope

Practical Steps for Processing Pain Through the Gospel Lens

Acknowledge the Pain: Like Job, we can be honest with God about our
suffering

1. Acknowledge the Pain: Like Job, we can be honest with God about our suffering
2. Remember Christ’s Suffering: Jesus experienced physical, emotional, and spiritual anguish on the cross
3. Trust God’s Presence: Even when we can’t feel Him, God promises to never leave us (Hebrews 13:5)

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”

4. Look to Community: Share burdens with fellow believers who can pray and support us

5. Focus on Eternal Hope: Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with future glory (Romans 8:18)

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

The Purpose of Pain in Light of the Gospel

• Pain can deepen our dependence on Christ
• Suffering can make us more compassionate toward others
• Trials can refine our faith and character
• Our testimony in suffering can point others to Jesus

Remember: The gospel doesn’t just give us hope for the future; it gives meaning to our present suffering as we follow in the footsteps of our suffering Savior who ultimately triumphed over all pain and death.

Conclusion

As we conclude our study of Job 3, we are reminded that expressing pain and questioning God in times of suffering is not a sign of weak faith. Job’s raw honesty teaches us that we can bring our deepest anguish to God.

However, unlike Job who could only see his suffering through the lens of the old covenant, we have the privilege of viewing our trials through the transformative lens of the cross. We know that our suffering is not meaningless and that God Himself, through Jesus Christ, entered into our suffering to redeem it.

Application Question: How will you view your current struggles differently when seen through the lens of Christ’s suffering and triumph?

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you that you are not distant from our
pain but entered into it through your Son Jesus Christ. Help us to trust you even when we don’t understand our suffering. Give us the strength to persevere, knowing that you are working all things for our good and your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Last Sunday – The Resurrection is our sure foundation –

1Corinthians 15:12-21Christ’s resurrection (and what it does to us) is our only sure foundation.Our preaching and faith hinges on the certainty & confidence of Christ’sresurrection…. continuing

Our Hope After Death

• We don’t think about death, unlike the Corinthians.
• Because death was a daily reality, they were concerned.
• We have to think about death so we know how to find hope.
• A wrong understanding can mislead us & take us on a destructive path.

In this chapter, Paul corrects a mistaken idea among some Corinthians that Christians will never be resurrected in bodily form.

• If not corrected, it could have left them hopeless.

They believed, as taught by the culture around them that either death is the end of a person entirely or that only the spirit goes on into some vague afterlife. Paulis showing that, instead, Christians will be resurrected to entire, physical lives just as Christ was after His crucifixion.

Why? – Our understanding will have a significant implication on how we live today

I am hoping that what we will hear today will make To have the proper perspective about life after death –

1. We have to understand the order in which events have unfolded in the past (v. 22-23)

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.”

• When God created ….
• Adam’s sin brought both physical and spiritual death to all humanity:
  • Physical death: The eventual decay and cessation of bodily functions
  • Spiritual death: Separation from God and a broken relationship with Him

This affects every person born into the world – we inherit the consequences of Adam’s original sin.

• His death became the pattern for all who would follow, because all are born into Adam’s sin.
• Therefore, Because Adam died, all die.
• There is no restoration or resurrection of those who die in sin

Redemption through Christ’s Crucifixion

• But God so loved the world he sent his son to … not only did he die, but on thethird day, he rose again from the dead.
• But his resurrection from death became the inevitable pattern for all forgivenfor their sins through faith in Him.
• Because He was resurrected in His bodily, physical form, all who are in Christ will also be physically resurrected from the grave when the time is right.
• Christ’s resurrection brings life to all who believe in Him
• There is an order to the resurrection: Christ first, then believers at His return

Our hope in death, based on the past events described, is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This hope encompasses several key aspects:

• Assurance of our own resurrection: Just as Christ was resurrected, we too will be raised to new life. – What a beautiful truth to behold!
• Victory over death: Christ’s resurrection demonstrates that death is not the end, but a transition to eternal life for believers.
• Transformation of our bodies: We will receive glorified, incorruptible bodies like Christ’s resurrected body.
• Reunion with fellow believers: We will be united with other Christians who have died in Christ.
• Eternal life in God’s presence: Our resurrection guarantees an eternity spent in perfect fellowship with God.

This hope gives us comfort, purpose, and motivation to live faithful lives, knowing that our ultimate destiny is secured through Christ’s victory over death.

2. We have to understand the order in which the event will unfold in the future (v. 24-28)

24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God[c] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

• Christ will ultimately defeat all enemies, including death itself.
• sometimes described as the “resurrection of the church,” comes “the end.”
• Christ will take possession of and hand over the Kingdom of God to the Father,but only after destroying—or “dethroning”—every ruler, authority, and power.
• earthly rulers or spiritual powers or both. Whatever has authority in the heavens or on earth will be displaced by Christ as He takes authority over all things.
• no details of the end times, but what he suggests is a battle or war for control over the earth that Christ will ultimately win for the sake of God the Father.

All of this will take place after His followers have been resurrected from the dead,as Christ was.

• He will hand over the kingdom to God the Father

The final enemy Christ will defeat is death itself. In a sense, Christ’s defeat of death began with His own resurrection from the grave. It will continue with the resurrection of all who have believed in Him. It will be final when death is no more(Revelation 21:1–5).

Revelation 21:1-5 (ESV): “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

At that moment, the victory over death and sin will be complete, and those who have believed in Christ will be free from it for all eternity (1 John 3:2;  1Corinthians 15:51).

1 John 3:2 (ESV): “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

1 Corinthians 15:51 : “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,”

Instead, it is the Father’s power that will enable Christ to gain the victory, followed by Christ’s giving to the Father the glory of the conquered kingdom.

• God will be “all in all” – the ultimate fulfillment of His sovereignty

The final goal of this, and the purpose of all of history and the lives of all who are in Christ and of Christ Himself, is that God will be “all in all.” In other words, God’s glory will reign supreme over the entire universe.

Our Hope in Death, Based on Future Events:

• Anticipation of Christ’s return: We eagerly await the second coming of Christ,which will initiate the resurrection of believers.
• Participation in Christ’s victory: We will witness and partake in Christ’s ultimate triumph over all evil powers and authorities.
• Freedom from death’s power: We look forward to the final defeat of death itself, knowing it will no longer have any hold over us.
• Complete restoration: We anticipate the end of all suffering, pain, and tears,replaced by perfect joy in God’s presence.

3. We have to understand how to live today, knowing the past & the future (v. 29-34)

29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”[d] 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not goon sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

• Paul uses rhetorical questions to emphasize the absurdity of denying theresurrection
• Don’t you see, I am so sure of resurrection that I put my life at risk every day.
• Our present sufferings have meaning because of the future Resurrection
• Paul tells the Corinthians in this verse that he boasts about their coming to Christ as one of the success stories of his ministry. All of that would be worthless, he implies, if there was no resurrection from the dead. There would be no point to his dying “every day,” likely meaning that he faced the real possibility of death constantly for the sake of Christ.
• Preaching the gospel does not bring him wealth or pleasure or status. Instead,it led him to fighting with beasts in Ephesus.
• In any case, without the hope of resurrection for himself and those he preaches to, Paul assures his readers he would not continue to do what he is doing. Instead, he would live like those philosophers of his day known as the Epicureans, who attempted to live life to the fullest since they were convinced nothing came after. He quotes from Isaiah 22:13 to capture that spirit, “Let useat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
• Belief in the resurrection should impact our daily Lives
• We must be vigilant against false teachings and immoral Influences
• Our lives should reflect the knowledge of God

Based on verses 33-34, Paul provides guidance on how we should live today,knowing the past and future events:

• Be cautious of bad influences: “Bad company ruins good morals.” We must be careful about the company we keep and the influences we allow in our lives.
• Stay spiritually alert: “Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right.” We should maintain spiritual vigilance and not become complacent in our faith.
• Pursue holiness: “Do not go on sinning.” Knowing our future hope should motivate us to live righteously in the present.
• Seek knowledge of God: “For some have no knowledge of God.” We should continually strive to deepen our understanding and relationship with God.

These instructions emphasize the importance of living intentionally and righteously, with our future hope in mind, while avoiding negative influences that could lead us astray.

Conclusion:

The resurrection of Christ is not just a historical event but a powerful reality that shape our present and future. It gives us hope, purpose, and the motivation to live holy lives. Let us embrace this truth and allow it to transform every aspect of our existence.

In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul paints a powerful picture of the church as the body of Christ. Just as the human body is made up of many parts, each with a unique function, so too is the church, comprised of diverse individuals with different gifts and roles. However, at the core of this illustration lies a fundamental truth: We are all interconnected, united in Christ, and called to work together for God’s glory.

Today, we’ll explore three lessons from this passage:

1. Living in denial that we are part of the body of Christ could be an absence of
   faith in the Gospel.
2. Everyone in the body has a part to play in the growth of God’s kingdom.
3. Gifts are many, but the mission is one: to glorify God and participate in His
   work.

1.Living in Denial of Our Place in the Body Could Reflect an Absence of Faith in the Gospel

Paul begins by emphasizing the unity of the body of Christ: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are
one body, so it is with Christ” (v.12). This metaphor is not just a picture of community; it’s an expression of spiritual reality. We are part of Christ’s body by virtue of our faith in Him.

• Why is this denial dangerous?
  • It diminishes the work of Christ: When we deny our place in the body, we are, in effect, denying the very work of Jesus on the cross, who has united us to Himself and to one another. Through His death and resurrection, He has given us new life, making us part of His body. To reject this is to question the sufficiency of His work
  • It undermines the Gospel’s message of grace: The Gospel calls us to trust that we belong to Christ—not based on our merit, but on His grace. Living in denial suggests we believe we need to earn our place rather than accept it by faith.
• Application:
  • If you struggle with feeling disconnected or insignificant in the church, remember that your belonging is secured in Christ, not in what you do or don’t do. Don’t live in denial of this truth. Accept the grace of God and believe that you are an integral part of His body.

2. Everyone in the Body Has a Part to Play in the Growth of God’s Kingdom

Paul goes on to explain that every part of the body has a purpose: “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you’” (v.21). Each member is important for the health and growth of the body.

This teaches us that everyone in the church has a role in the growth of God’s kingdom. There are no “extra” or “useless” parts of the body. Some may have visible roles, while others may serve quietly behind the scenes, but all are equally valuable in God’s mission.

• Why is this lesson important?
  • It combats spiritual inferiority: You may think, “I’m not as gifted as someone else, so I don’t matter.” But the truth is, every person—no matter how big or small their role seems—has a part to play in God’s kingdom. Just as every organ in the human body has a function, so too does every believer in the church.
  • It promotes spiritual interdependence: Paul emphasizes that each part of the body needs the other. No one can say, “I don’t need you.” We are meant to rely on one another for the growth and flourishing of the church. This mutual dependence reflects the humility and cooperation that should characterize the body of Christ.
• Application:
  • Take time to discern the gifts God has given you. Ask yourself, “How can I serve the body of Christ? How can I contribute to the growth of God’s kingdom?” Whether your gift is teaching, serving, encouraging, or something else, remember that you are vital to the body’s health.

3. Gifts Are Many, but the Mission is One: To Glorify God and Participate in His Work

Paul concludes by reminding the Corinthians that while there are many different gifts, they are all given for the same purpose: to build up the body of Christ and to glorify God. “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church… various gifts” (v.27-28). These gifts are not for personal glory, but for the greater mission of the church.

• Why is this crucial?
  • It aligns our focus: The gifts we have been given are tools for a greater mission—the mission of God’s kingdom. The danger is that we might focus on our gifts for the wrong reasons, seeking personal recognition rather than God’s glory. Paul’s point is clear: The gifts are many, but the mission is one—to glorify God and participate in His work.
  • It unifies the church: When we understand that the ultimate purpose of our gifts is to glorify God, it prevents competition or comparison among believers. Instead of competing over whose gift is more important, we can celebrate the diversity of gifts and recognize that they all contribute to the same mission.
• Application:
  • Use your gifts for God’s glory, not for your own. Ask yourself, “Am I serving to make myself look good, or am I using my gifts to advance God’s mission?” Whatever your gift is, use it in humility, knowing that it is God who works through you to accomplish His purposes.

Conclusion:

The body of Christ is a beautiful and powerful metaphor for the church. It reminds us of three key truths:

1. We must not deny our place in the body, for doing so reflects a lack of faith in the Gospel.
2. Everyone in the body, no matter their role, is essential to the growth of God’s
   kingdom.
3. Our gifts may be different, but they all serve the same mission: to glorify God
   and advance His kingdom.

Let us embrace our place in the body, use our gifts faithfully, and work together as
one for the glory of God.

In today’s world, the idea of exclusivity often comes with negative connotations—elitism, discrimination, or separation. However, in the Christian context, being “exclusive” is about being set apart by God for a unique and divine purpose. This passage from 1 Corinthians 10 reminds us of the sacredness of our calling, the responsibilities it carries, and the communal aspect of living out our faith.

1. We Are Called into an Exclusive Relationship with God Through Jesus

1 Corinthians 10 begins by reminding us of Israel’s history—how they were all under the cloud, passed through the sea, and ate the same spiritual food. Yet, not all pleased God. Paul uses this history to caution us that despite being part of God’s people, our relationship with Him is personal and exclusive through Christ.

Called to be His Own: Just as Israel was chosen, we are called into a covenant relationship with God, but this is now through Jesus. It’s not just a collective identity but an intimate, personal relationship. This relationship is exclusive because it’s through Christ alone, by His sacrifice, that we have access to the Father (John 14:6).

The Warning of Idolatry: Verses 7-10 warn against idolatry, which in this context is anything that takes the place of God in our hearts. This exclusivity in our relationship with God means that nothing else can compete for His place. We are to worship God alone, loving Him with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).

2. We Are Called to Live an Exclusive Lifestyle That Honors God

Paul goes on to urge the Corinthians to learn from the past, to not repeat the mistakes of Israel. This brings us to our second point: our calling demands a lifestyle that is set apart.

A Life of Holiness: Living a lifestyle that honors God means adhering to His standards, which are often in contrast with the world’s values. We are to flee from idolatry (v.14), which could be anything that detracts from God’s supremacy in our lives—be it materialism, immorality, or pride. Our exclusivity is evident in our distinctiveness—living holy lives as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16).

Witness to the World: This exclusive lifestyle is not just for our benefit but as a witness to others. When our lives reflect God’s holiness, it draws others to the light of Christ in us. Our speech, conduct, and decisions should all bear the mark of this divine calling.

3. We Are Placed in an Exclusive Community to Live Out This Lifestyle

Finally, our exclusive calling is not just individual but communal. Paul speaks to the church in Corinth as a collective, reminding them of their shared history, challenges, and calling.

Community of Believers: God places us in an exclusive community—the Church—to support, encourage, and hold each other accountable. Verses 16-17 speak of the communion we share as believers, symbolizing our unity in Christ. This community is exclusive in its purpose to uphold God’s truth and encourage one another in faith.

Means of Grace: Within this community, God provides means of grace—through the Word, sacraments, and fellowship—to help us live out our calling. The Church is where we grow, where we learn to live this exclusive lifestyle, and where we find strength in our shared faith. Together, we resist temptation (v.13) and build each other up in love and truth.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, our calling as Christians is exclusive in the most beautiful and profound way. We are called into an exclusive relationship with God through Jesus, to live a lifestyle that honors Him, and to be part of an exclusive community that supports and nurtures our faith. Let us take to heart Paul’s exhortation, learning from Israel’s history, and commit to living out this exclusive calling with reverence and joy. Amen.