Those Who Plow Injustice Reap Trouble

Introduction

Object Lesson: A single lego piece

Motivation:

Explanation:

Summary of Three Points:

Eliphaz Gets it Backwards

Introduction: Who’s looking forward to warmer weather? I know I am. I just hope we get a lot more rain this year than last year, something I never thought I’d say. Mind you rain often spoils your plans. You look out the window and see people walking around with their umbrella’s and you think ‘Well, there goes the park.’ Last summer I was so excited for a beach day. Drove all the way there. Parked. Got out of the car. And what did I see? Umbrellas everywhere. So I got back in the car and went home. Clearly, it was raining.”

That’s a little silly, isn’t it? Umbrellas don’t necessarily prove that it’s raining. In fact they can mean the exact opposite, since umbrellas can also be used to block out the sun. In that story I had the logic backwards.

We don’t want to be the kind of people who make those kinds of mistakes do we? I mean, none of us would leave the beach because we thought umbrellas mean it’s raining, but similar things can happen to us in real life that are more subtle. For example one of the symptoms of dehydration is headaches. So if you say you have a headache and someone tells you to drink water they might be making that same mistake. Yes, dehydration causes headaches but just because you have a headache doesn’t mean your dehydrated.

Eliphaz makes a similar mistake in Job chapter 4. Let’s take a look at some of what Eliphaz says. We’ll zoom in on Job 4:7-9

Job 4:7–9 CSB

Consider: Who has perished when he was innocent? Where have the honest been destroyed? In my experience, those who plow injustice and those who sow trouble reap the same. They perish at a single blast from God and come to an end by the breath of his nostrils.

Like a lot of what Job’s friends say in their speeches, there’s a kernel of truth in here, but one that gets dangerously twisted. The idea that those who plow injustice and those who sow trouble reap the same? That’s a Biblical truth. Of course we can’t just take Eliphaz’s word for it since God later rebukes him, but we can read the same idea all over the place in the book of Proverbs, such as in Proverbs 12:21

Proverbs 12:21 CSB

No disaster overcomes the righteous, but the wicked are full of misery.

and again in Proverbs 22:8

Proverbs 22:8 CSB

The one who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

So if the Bible elsewhere backs him up in this, where has he gone wrong? The trouble comes when you take the general biblical truth that those who do bad things get bad results and think that means that anyone who is going through difficult times must have done something wrong. While it’s true that God has designed the world so that most of the time the natural consequence of wickedness is suffering, that doesn’t mean that suffering is always because of wickedness.

This is actually a formal fallacy called “affirming the consequent.” It’s important that we talk about this because it’s the key to understanding where Job’s friends went wrong, so forgive me if I get a bit technical here. Affirming the consequent looks something like this in the abstract:

If P than Q

Q

Therefore P

So if you wanted to write out my earlier illustration this way it would look like this:

If it’s raining, people use umbrellas People are using umbrellas Therefore it must be raining

The first line is generally true, but just because it’s true doesn’t mean that the conclusion follows. The reason being that there might be other explanations. So if we write out Eliphaz’s argument, both stated and implied, it would look something like this:

Wickedness leads to suffering Job is suffering Therefore Job must be wicked

This fails to recognize that there are other explanations for why a person might suffer. This matters because this old error hasn’t gone anywhere I’m sad to say. I have a good friend who suffers from Chrons disease and he was once told by a Pastor that he must still have Chrons because God was punishing him for his past sins. Seriously that happend, much to my shame and disgust.

But that is far from a Biblical idea. Even here in Job we have a plain alternative explanation for why Job is suffering. He isn’t suffering because God is punishing him for wickedness, in this case he is suffering to prove that he’s faithful to God. This same idea comes up in the gospels in John 9:1-2

John 9:1–2 CSB

As he was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

The question that the disciples are asking Jesus assumes a view similar to Eliphaz. This man is blind, or in other words suffering blindness, so whose sin caused this? Did God punish him at birth for future sins or did his parents sin in some way that God is punishing them by blinding their son? Jesus answers in John 9:3-5

John 9:3–5 CSB

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him. We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

So in the case of this blind man he wasn’t being punished for sins, but was born blind so that Jesus might heal him and bring glory to God through that moment. Likewise Jesus also tells us by implication that some suffering is even caused because we do good! Matthew 5:10-12

Matthew 5:10–12 CSB

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

So in some cases people are persecuted for doing what’s right. Are they being punished for sin? Of course not! The Bible also explains that in some cases suffering is being used to build our character. Romans 5:3-5

Romans 5:3–5 CSB

And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

So you see it’s not so simple as Eliphaz would have us believe. Later Job’s other friends will say similar things. That’s why I want to emphasize this point so strongly here and now. Just because someone is suffering doesn’t mean that they’ve done something to deserve it. Sometimes yes, we suffer as a consequence of our own actions. And the Bible does say that sometimes God disciplines us for our wrongdoing through suffering so that we might become better disciples. But the problem comes when you get it backwards like Eliphaz did.

So what’s the takehome for you and I? The most important lesson here is in how we treat those who are suffering. Don’t ever assume that because someone is suffering they must have done wrong to deserve it. That is callous and wrong minded and can end up taking hurting people and driving a wedge between them and the gospel. Beware the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:6

Matthew 18:6 CSB

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.

So let us not cause those who are hurting to stumble and drive them away from Jesus by accusing them of not having enough faith or of doing wrong because they are hurting. Instead when someone is hurting, listen, pray, and walk alongside them, rather than assuming they did something wrong. Kind of like what Job’s friends were doing before they opened their mouths.

Now not everything Eliphaz says is wrong, of course. Like I said the general observation that wrongdoing leads to trouble is right, but also Eliphaz makes some wise points about the nature of humanity. So let’s take a look at what Eliphaz says about us.

Humans are Born for Trouble

Introduction: Throughout human history a lot of people have tried their best to come up with the best systems of governments possible, to mixed success. There have been Monarchies, Democracies, Representative Republics, Fascist Dictatorships, Communist Regimes, and more. None of them however are perfect. Why is that? Well I think I’ve figured out the common denominator that ruins every attempt at a utopian government. They’re run by people.

This is a problem of course because people are flawed and easily corrupted. So you put them in charge of anything and before you know it they’ve found a way to mess it up. I mean, we know this right? We’re all people. We know people are flawed. Unless we’ve really buried our heads in the sand. This is basically what Eliphaz is getting at with Job 4:17-21

Job 4:17–21 CSB

“Can a mortal be righteous before God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?” If God puts no trust in his servants and he charges his angels with foolishness, how much more those who dwell in clay houses, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like a moth! They are smashed to pieces from dawn to dusk; they perish forever while no one notices. Are their tent cords not pulled up? They die without wisdom.

Eliphaz emphasizes the shortlived nature of people. They come and go so quickly they die without true wisdom. Yet I think the first verse captures the real heart of the flaw of humanity, which is a comparison to God. When you hold us up against the example of a pure and perfect creator of the universe it really draws the sharp contrast.

Ever since mankind fell in the garden of Eden we have been marred by sin. The shortlived thing is not unrelated, since the punishment God gave us for sin was death afterall. Though the image of God is still intact within us we mess up all the time. No one is perfect. Or to quote Scripture, Romans 3:10-12

Romans 3:10–12 CSB

as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.

So why emphasize this point that Eliphaz makes? Why give it a spot in my top three lessons of this speech? Because it reminds us of a core truth behind the gospel. We cannot save ourselves. None of us is justified before God. Without Jesus we would all be on our way to eternal seperation from our perfect, Holy creator.

We can be tempted to get straight to the good news without establishing the bad news first. There was a time when people were more aware of their sinfulness and maybe you didn’t need to convince them of original sin before you encouraged them to respond to Jesus and have their sins forgiven. I’m not so sure that’s the case any more. So for those of us who already believe this is an encouragement that it’s important to help people understand the seriousness of human sin if you want them to desire to be saved from their sinfulness.

And to those who are hearing this sermon and haven’t responded to Jesus I want to encourage you to consider the stakes. If it’s true that no one can be pure before their maker, than how will you stand up when you’re face to face with your maker? We don’t have to fear God’s judgment because Jesus has made a way for all to be forgiven. Jesus lived the perfect life we couldn’t, died the death we deserved, and rose to give us eternal life if we trust and follow Him.

Basically you should take the advice of Eliphaz and appeal to God, but with one big asterisk. Let’s talk about that, shall we?

Appeal to God

Introduction: Fun fact, my mother is soon going to retire. In fact next month is her last month of work before her retirement. This is exciting to me for two reasons. First, because I’m happy for my mother that she doesn’t have to work anymore. Second, because that means she will be more available to hang out with my children.

This is beneficial for everyone involved because my mother loves spending time with her grandchildren, my kids love spending time with their grandmother, and Katie and I love spending time just the two of us. The issue would be if I came to look at my mother as JUST a means of free childcare. Because my mother is a person, and one who loves me. That should come first in our relationship.

The trouble with Eliphaz’s advice to Job is that it pitches a relationship with God for the sake of reward if we aren’t careful. After explaining that God heals those he disciplines if they repent (which assumes again that Job is being punished for something) Eliphaz promises the following results of turning to God:

Job 5:20–26 CSB

In famine he will redeem you from death, and in battle, from the power of the sword. You will be safe from slander and not fear destruction when it comes. You will laugh at destruction and hunger and not fear the land’s wild creatures. For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you. You will know that your tent is secure, and nothing will be missing when you inspect your home. You will also know that your offspring will be many and your descendants like the grass of the earth. You will approach the grave in full vigor, as a stack of sheaves is gathered in its season.

This sounds like a lot of prosperty being promised to Job if he will turn to God. Do you remember what Satan accused Job of back in the first few chapters of Job?

Job 1:9–10 CSB

Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven’t you placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

Satan is saying that Job is only loyal to God because of what he will gain from God. And what does Eliphaz promise him? He will gain from God if he remains loyal. He’s basically trying to prove Satan’s point.

The problem is that this has a skewed view of the purpose of serving God and of the expectations that those who do right should have. First, we shouldn’t serve God because we want happiness and success in this life. As I’ve said before, God is a person who wants us to love Him not serve Him for material gain. Motives matter as we have said before.

It also matters because it sets up expectations. If we set our expectations higher than they should be than we are just setting ourselves up for disappointment and sadness. Like if one of my children was expecting dozens of balloons on their birthday and they got five. That would be disappointing. But if they expected one and got five, well that would be a pleasant surprise!

If we tell people to serve God because they’ll live perfect blessed lives of prosperity what happens when they face trials and difficulty? If the gospel is supposed to bring us material gain what good is it if we don’t get the material gain? So people throw away the gospel and miss out on eternal life because someone has perverted the gospel and made it into something it is not.

These verses come to mind whenever I think of those who preach prosperity gospel:

Galatians 1:6–10 CSB

I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him! For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

So be careful my friends when you share the gospel not to make it seem like Christianity is just the most successful life plan instead of the only hope of a restored relationship with God. We need to help them to understand that Christianity doesn’t make life easier. In fact in many ways it makes life harder, but in the best way.

So if you’re in church or watching this video on YouTube because you want to try Christianity out to see if it feels better than other ways of life, I want to prepare you for the truth. It’s not about living a good life. It’s about loving a good God. One who cares a whole lot more about your holiness than your happiness, though the happiness will one day come and come forever.

Conclusion

I hope that you’ve seen that even though Eliphaz and his friends are later rebuked by God for misrepresenting Him, we can still learn something from their speeches. Broken clocks are still right twice a day, and there is a such thing as learning from a bad example. Using both of these principles we found these three truths in Eliphaz’s speech: First, that suffering does not necessarily mean that someone has done something wrong, so we should have compassion on those who suffer. Second, that human beings are short lived and flawed and need God’s help to be who we need to be. Third we learn that we should in fact make our appeal to God, but out of a genuine desire to have a relationship with Him and not for gain.

If I could sum up this entire message with one short application it would be this: Don’t let your circumstances dictate your relationship with God. Just because you’re going through trials doesn’t mean God doesn’t love you or even that you don’t love God. There may be a different even greater purpose behind what you’re going through. Trust that God is your ultimate good even if it doesn’t translate to success in this life. Then we will be truly blessed with spiritual blessings in the heavenlies instead of treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy.

As we go remember the words of praise from Job. The Lord Gives. The Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.