As with Job's other friends, Zophar is right on one level. If we were to be confronted with the full weight of our sin, if we were to try to prove our righteousness, none could stand. No doubt Job is sinful. And he realizes that. This is why Job had a long history of making sacrifices, praying, and ascribing glory to God rather than to himself. If we were righteous we would not give glory and praise to anyone, for there would be none better.
That righteousness which we have comes from our Lord. We remember from Ephesians 2.8-9 that we are saved by grace through faith. That's what is accounted to us as righteousness. It is not our works. It is not our goodness. We need God to give us that righteousness.
How do we see righteousness? Surely not by looking at a person's faith, but by looking at a person's works. Those works do not save us in any way. They do, however, bring benefit to those around us in this world. Frequently they bring benefits to us ourselves as well. Jesus tells us that he does the works of God so people can see God and glorify him. Unlike us, Jesus has no need for repentance. He bears no weight of sin. Yet he gives glory and praise to the Father. How much more should we, with our faith, with our mouth, with all the works of our life give glory and praise to the Father. Though it earns us nothing, it serves to benefit those around us.
No comments:
Post a Comment