C HRISTIAN doctors and nurses are entrusted with a gift to use to the glory of God. All education is a trust, and we must answer to the Lord for it. Money is a trust; a beautiful voice, the gift of teaching, the care of children in the home and in the school— all these are trusts from the Giver of “every good . . . and . . . perfect gift” (James 1:17). And in this sense trouble is a trust to the child of God. We must face it and use it for the glory of His name. God can not trust some of His people with money; neither can He trust all of us with sorrow and suffering. He knows that we would not use it for His glory. ' Job is a good example of one whom God could permit to suffer. And his griefs were not the result of sin in his life! Neither were they the result of lack of faith! God bore testimony to the faithfulness and devotion of His servant. Trouble Is a Trust Turn to the Bible record, and read the story of how Satan accused Job to God and how God permitted Satan to try Job, “for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience” (James 5:10,11). Re member, as you read, that Job knew nothing about this conversation between God and Satan. He did not know, as we know now, that he was to be an object- lesson in patience and faith for many generations to come. Had he known why he was called to suffer, it would have been easier for him to endure; but his victory would not have been so trium phant. Perhaps God is using you, my Christian brother, in the same way, as an object-lesson in patience before your family and friends. With his children gone, his property gone, his body a loathsome thing, yet “ in all this did not Job sin with his lips,” when even his wife bade him “curse God, and die” (Job 2:9, 10). “ The Lord gave,” he said; “ and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). “Now when Job’s three friends heard A P R I L , 19 50
of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place.” So astonished were they at the change that had taken place in him that they “ sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.” (See Job 2:11-13.) They just sat and looked at him in his miserable condition. Think of it! Seven days and seven nights! Then they began to upbraid and ac cuse him, and say that all this calamity had come upon him because he was a hypocrite and had sinned. No wonder Job answered them, saying, “ Miserable comforters are ye all” (Job 16 :-2). No wonder he called them “ forgers of lies” and “ physicians of no value” (Job 13:4). Some of the most sublime of all the words of Scripture fell from the lips of Job. during his sore affliction. “ Though he slay me, yet will I trust him,” Job said of Jehovah (Job 13:15). “ I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall 1 see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not an other; though my reins be consumed within me” (Job 19:25-27). These and other utterances of this man of God bear witness to his fidelity to his Redeemer, even though he did not understand why he was called to suffer so. And Satan’s mouth was closed, for Job glorified God. Can that be said of you— of me? How do we behave when trouble comes? Satan is “the accuser of our brethren . . . before our God day and night” (Rev. 12:10). Let us not give him a chance to say that our God is not able to. sustain in any trial. Turn now to the closing chapter of the book of Job, and see how God blessed him “ when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10)—sons and daughters, flocks and herds, and many years of joy. Likewise, as we en dure trials for Christ’s sake, we have His strength and presence and joy now,
and for all eternity everlasting life and His glory to behold, and to share. Trouble rightly used is a trust. To the child'of God who seeks His will, what ever the cost, it is one way of honoring Him. It is easy to be a happy Christian in the time of prosperity and health and earthly joys. But our neighbors can tell what our relationship, to God is when trouble comes in like a flood. The Suffering Saint Proves the Sufficiency of God’s Grace Isaiah 50:10 is like balm to the trou bled soul: “ Who is among you that fear- eth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.” Isaiah, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, was addressing those of God’s people, Israel, who feared the Lord; that is, they put in Him a rever ential trust. They obeyed the voice of His servants, the prophets. Yet they were walking in darkness, without light to understand the meaning of their trials and suffering. And to such he said, “ Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.” Is that your experience, my brother? Have you lost your wealth? Are you suf fering from a weak body? Have your family and friends forsaken you? Have you “ no light” as to why these things are so? Then trust in the Lord, and stay upon your God! Let me tell you how that text became precious to me. I had two Christian friends in Indianapolis, a man and his wife who were" serving the Lord in the Union Rescue Mission of that city. My friend had been a very profane man, em ployed by a railroad company before his conversion. But he was wonderfully saved; and possessing real gifts of lead ership, he was put in charge of this evangelical center. The Mission was con ducted in a vacated theater building, which seated about three thousand peo ple. My friend soon became a leader among all the evangelical forces of that city. Page Eleven
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