Who Is the Almighty     Job 21.15

Job is bewildered and frustrated by the casual and prosperous lives of the ungodly. Why should they have it so good when things have been so bad for him - and he is trying to be pleasing to God?!

It seems to me that the statement he attributes to the ungodly in verses 14 and 15 could also be the lifestyle statement of many who are church members today.

"And they say to God, 'Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Thy ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we entreat Him?' "

That's so reflective of the attitudes prevalent in the peripheral membership of the western civilization Church. 

'Christians' do not want to be termed 'ungodly.' Many writers and researchers use the term 'nominal' in reference to church members who are infrequent attendees and those who view themselves as 'having a preference of ...' some church or denomination but not actively involved.

In various surveys taken of church attendees over the past decade, there has been a substantial increase in respondents saying their attendance in a certain church wasn't due to the doctrinal statement of the church but rather the identity or reputation of the church and or its minister or one of its programs.

The acculturization and socialization of the church has made affiliation with it, in some form - whether membership or association, socially acceptable and in some places politically expedient. 

This attitude of acceptance and affiliation is not to be understood as being the same as an attitude and desire to serve Him, seek to know His ways, and becoming a person of prayer. The typical 'nominal' Christian wouldn't think they are really saying, "Depart from me..." but their attitude is "Leave me alone and let me be."

Indeed, in our society we value people and organizations who aren't "pushy" about their values or positions. Our society's current primary value seems to be that nobody is wrong except the individual or organization who believes in moral necessity and absolutes. And, if you really must have religious beliefs, at least keep them to yourself.

Okay, back to Job. I do understand his frustration. Job wanted a little bit of daily justice to come down from the Eternal Throne. While Jesus did mention "...in this life and the life to come," I want it 'in this week and in the life to come!'

I've heard my mother often say, "Pay day isn't always on Friday." Truly! The Bible also encourages us "Fret not because of evil doers." As little kids who want someone else to get in trouble when they are themselves caught in a misdeed, so we want others to suffer when we deem them not as worthy as ourselves of good things.

What we have to keep in focus isn't the attitude of our neighbor, coworker or politician who claims religion for expediency or treats lightly that which we hold precious. We have to make certain we continue to desire the knowledge of His ways. We have to seek the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and  we must entreat Him!

We must do this regardless of how the ungodly prosper because "pay day isn't always on Friday."