Test of Trust

Job 1:1-5 chronicles the story of an amazing man who was "blameless and upright" in God's eyes. It goes on to describe how God allowed Satan to systematically pick apart his life to the point where Job begins to curse his fate. In the end when God reveals Himself to Job, he comes to terms with his situation and acknowledges the Lord. The book of Job paints a beautiful picture of a man, despite the amazing hardship, kept his faith with God. However, there's another lesson here that's hidden between the lines. No one will ever question Job's faith or the his morality, yet there was one thing he did lacked, trust.

Trust is a simple yet powerful principle and there three characters that are relevent to every Christian.

1. Trust reveal fear - Job had fear in his life. In 1:5, it mentions how Job would sacrifice burnt offerings for his children in fear that they might have done something to offend the Lord. In 3:25 Job even confesses "What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me." Fear stems from that one does not have trust in God. Do you have trust that God is in control? Do you really believe no matter how dire the situation may be, God only has the best interest in mind? When you lack that trust, then you heart become a vessel to be filled with doubt which will ultimately lead to fear.
2. Trust rests in relationship - There is no doubt that Job had faith in God. Even during his ordeal, he never once denied the existence of the Lord. Furthermore, this man's faith was so strong that the bible itself describes him as "blameless and upright." Yet God was not after this man's faith. What God was interested in was his trust. Because it is impossible to have a relationship with God without trust, and God wanted to have a relationship with Job.
3. Trust redefines belief and blessings - Blessings that come from trusting God will be far greater than blessings you receive from mere faith. Gifts you receive from God with any prior trust in Him, will ultimately come to possess you. For we are children of sin and our nature will always draw us back to our pride.

That is why faith alone is not enough. It must be coupled with trust in God for it to be meaningful. Faith will come with the Word, but if you yearn to have a relationship with the Lord, then there is only one way, trust. Without it, your faith will always be shaky.

--from Nakwon EM October 21th 2007 Sunday Worship Service
*To listen to this sermon in its entirety, please contact James Kim

Donkey + Lion = Anti-christ????????????