Job was utterly perplexed by the intense suffering he had to endure, despite leading a life filled with good virtues and unwavering faith in God. He had always strived to do good and maintain a strong connection with his beliefs. He questioned why, with all these compelling reasons, he was subjected to such misery.
Even Job’s friends, who empathized with his plight, found themselves baffled and frustrated. They couldn’t fathom why a man as virtuous and just as Job had to undergo such profound suffering. In their minds, if Job was truly perfect, God should have intervened and spared him from his torment. This led them to believe that there must be some hidden sins, unknown to both Job and themselves, that had brought about this unfortunate situation. They urged Job to reflect on his actions and search for any possible transgressions, hoping that repentance would alleviate his suffering.
However, Job adamantly maintained his innocence. He refused to deceive himself or God by falsely confessing to sins he was not aware of committing. He firmly believed that repentance for something he had no knowledge of was an impossible task. Despite the encouragement from his friends, Job remained resolute in his conviction, unwilling to accept blame for his suffering without clear understanding or evidence.
The struggle and confusion faced by Job and his friends can be seen as an early example of the challenges posed by the concept of meritocracy. The idea suggests that if one possesses enough merit to be righteous and faithful, then they should be saved and favored by God, with the universe bestowing its blessings upon such a virtuous individual. In this line of thinking, a good person should lead a good life, and their success and prosperity should serve as evidence of their inherent goodness and divine favor.
This perspective appears to be upright and truthful, aligning with the values of meritocracy and self-reliance. The proverb “God helps those who help themselves” comes to mind, emphasizing the importance of personal virtues and efforts in attaining happiness, success, and prosperity. Cultivating one’s virtues is crucial in the pursuit of happiness, as they serve as prerequisites for achieving fulfilling goals. It is believed that gifts from God, whether in the form of fortune, grace, or accomplishment, are bestowed upon those who possess merits and abilities.
In light of this understanding, the question arises: why did Job have to endure such profound suffering? Job should have been a prime example of the meritocratic nature of life. At the beginning of the story, he epitomized the successful life of a religious and righteous man. His unwavering devotion to God resulted in experiencing divine grace in every aspect of his existence, while his great wealth mirrored the prosperity often attributed to personal merits in the modern world. It was believed that God had a special fondness for individuals who demonstrated honesty, intelligence, and thoughtfulness.
However, Job found himself plunged into immense suffering, which not only perplexed him but also confounded his friends. Did Job’s virtues suddenly become worthless? Was his suffering merely a result of God and Satan engaging in a test to amuse themselves by observing Job’s confusion? These questions challenged the notion that a person’s merits and righteous character would safeguard them from such hardships.
What Job’s suffering showed us is the critical mistake we have made in our meritocratic perspective. Does God only favor individuals who exhibit honesty, intelligence, and thoughtfulness? Are fortune, success, and prosperity gifts bestowed by God upon those who solely rely on their own efforts and talents, merely due to their fortunate circumstances of being born into privilege, with advantageous backgrounds, good genes, family lineage, and social standing?
God’s favor does not depend solely on an individual’s merits. We have all taken this truth for granted. That is why we easily succumb to the influence of prosperity theology, admiring high achievers, while struggling to comprehend the message conveyed in the Book of Job. Like Job and his friends, we too find ourselves confused.
The solution to Job’s confusion is revealed in the Gospels through the words of Jesus Christ at the commencement of his missionary work. His message was clear, direct, and yet paradoxical. Who are the ones genuinely blessed? If Job and his friends had heard Jesus’ words, they would have been bewildered once more. Jesus conveyed the following message:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:3-12
If you are proud of your righteousness and determination believing your innocence and honesty before God trusting yourself that you are capable of getting God’s favor because of your merits, then you are far from the blessings Jesus mentioned in his message.
Upon hearing the words of Jesus, Job would reply to him, expressing his confusion and the lack of understanding regarding the reason behind his intense suffering. “Could it be that my suffering is actually a blessing?”
It seems that this is the message Jesus is conveying to all of us. His words sound compassionate and empathetic towards those who are going through difficult times. Yet, we can also sense a tone of rebuke aimed at those who are consumed by their own self-importance. Who do you think you are, claiming that you can earn God’s favor through your own efforts, virtues, and merits?
Elihu, the youngest among Job’s friends who only understood the point, also conveyed the same blaming tone that the meritocratic mindset of Job and his friends is the root cause of their confusion. As long as we are full of ourselves and believe we can negotiate with God, He remains the God of punishment. In this state, we are unable to see His will or hear His voice. It was only when Job humbled himself completely and embraced a sense of insignificance, experiencing it for the first time in his life, that he could finally hear God’s voice and comprehend His undeserved love. This love can only be understood through His only begotten Son.
Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Job 42:1-6
Job abhorred himself and repented in dust and ashes. In that very moment, he liberated himself from the shackles of his deceitful merits and ego.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 10:39
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