He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. Job 34:11
Elihu, a younger man, chooses to speak to Job. He focuses on the statement that Job had made saying that he was innocent of any wrong-doing. He then defends God by showing how God works with people. Elihu stated God brings judgement onto people for what they have done, causing to make them pay for their sins.
When people are going through a difficult time, or major troubles in their life, many believe that God is punishing them for some sin. God is making them pay for their sins in this life.
Believers in the church, have often been known to shun others going through a difficult time. They try to get the person to repent of some sin. To them, God is punishing the person.
Individuals are often known to kick themselves for sins that were done years ago because right now they are going through a difficult time in life. Many fear that God is looking down from heaven and striking them for a sin that was done a long time back, even though repentance for that sin has occurred many times.
Job had not done anything wrong to bring on the difficulties that he was going through. Look back at the first couple of chapters and see that God put Satan up to this trial.
If God were to give everyone the punishment that their conduct deserves, not a single person would be alive today. Everyone has sinned and walked away from God. No one has done perfectly right. Every person who has given his life to God, believing in Jesus, has also sinned since he gave his life to Jesus. The payment for sin is death.
Jesus came to forgive and save, not condemn and kill. You may be going through a difficult time. Look at your life. Are you living in some type of sin on purpose? If so, then change. Seek Jesus and His forgiveness.
If you are not living in a sin on purpose, then trust God. He is allowing a trial in your life for a reason, and it is not because of sin. He may be working to build you up. Or to make you His witness to this world.
Be willing to accept all that God gives you, both the blessings and the trials.
I pray today that you will see God’s purpose for your life; that you will trust God’s work in your life; that you will serve Jesus with your life; and that you will know that Jesus will forgive all sins.
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