Job and Solomon

The other day I was thinking about Job.  Job most likely lived during the time of the Patriarchs (Abraham's era), and was very wealthy and successful in every imaginable way.  He was blessed with a wonderful family, business success, and financial stability.  As the account of Job reads, Job lost everything, including his health.  However, it was Job's response to these things that intrigues me the most.  Job did not sin, nor did he curse God and die.  The explanation for this is simple, Job's motive for loving God was pure love.  He did not love God for the things that God gave or could give him.  Job loved in the same way that the Holy One loved, with a self-giving motive.  Job could do this because he knew, that no thing in this world could supply his needs apart from God.  Job was never fooled into believing that just one more home, camel, son, or business venture could offer him greater happiness.  Job trusted in God to meet his needs. 

Fast forward into the future and we meet a king.  This king had everything that money could buy and power could attain.  However, upon gazing over his vast kingdom with its great riches, King Solomon uttered the infamous words "worthless".  The world's wisest man's assessment of the best that the world could give was "worthless".  

Two very wealthy men, two very different conclusions.  One lived in the blessing of the Lord and the other did not. The difference between them rests in how each answered the question "who supplies my needs?"  Though he lost everything, Job had not lost God.  Conversely, Solomon had possessed everything, except for the One he most desperately needed.  

The point?  It is very tempting to wonder if just one more thing could offer peace and contentment.  God created humans to responsibly enjoy this world.  The things of this earth have been given to supply our needs, and bring joy and happiness.  Yet, the joy and happiness that these things bring, must be rightly headed in the Creator and Giver of them, God.  If we fail to embrace the idea that we were created to remain in Christ, we will have a sad existence indeed.  We will forever be chasing, but never sustaining contentment, joy, and peace.  Oh, what a pitiful moment it must have been, when Solomon looked into the mirror and concluded "worthless!  All these things, utterly worthless!"  When in the mirror of life you gaze, what will your conclusion be?  Who supplies your need?