In Job 1:1, the Bible records that Job is “blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” The grammar is odd in this verse, which makes it unclear as to whether this is a list of characteristics such as: Job is blameless, upright, one who feared God, and shunned evil.” Or could it be understood as the following: “Job is blameless and upright, because he feared God and shunned evil.” The latter part of this sentence gives the explanation for Job’s righteousness. Either way, we can all come to harmony that Job was blameless, upright, a God fearer, and an evil shunner.
I have read this verse before, but I never zoned in on the fact that Job shunned evil. I was always too perplexed about the fact that Job was blameless and upright. What did this mean? I thought the Bible said that none were righteous, no not one. Did Paul forget about Job? Of course not. But, that is a totally separate subject that I will discuss in a future article.
When I read the holy Word of God this time, I noticed, as if in bold, that Job feared God and shunned evil. He shunned evil. What does that mean? Webster’s dictionary says to shun is to avoid deliberately and especially habitually. In my every day usage of the word shun, I have only ever used and heard shunning to people such as ‘Don’t shun me’ or ‘the Amish church shuns its former members.’ However, the idea of shunning evil itself is a revolutionary idea to me; it is also a concept I see is completely low and void in society and, most sadly, in the Christian community.
I joked with my wife, my more dearest fellow partaker in the work of God, the only thing I have seen is Christians shunning people who shun evil. We call them square, uptight, and self-righteouss; we unfairly accuse them of trying to earn their salvation. Surely no one who wasn’t trying to earn there salvation would work hard at actually doing the will of who we so piously profess is Lord and savior. Works have nothing to do with self-righteousness, if so then all of our church fathers, previous Prophets, and apostles were self-righteouss sinners who should have been more like the rest of us –abandoned, condemn homes.
Jesus Christ called the religious leaders of his day white washed tombs, for they look good on the outside but inside were full of dead man bones. Verily, verily I say onto you that at least they look good on the outside. Today we don’t look like “white washed tombs.” We look like open caskets . We can clearly see that nothing but a dead man lies in front of us.
Oh, dear God how long will you have mercy on men. How long will you restrain you justice and wrath.
My point here is not that we should be like the religious hypocrites of Jesus’s day; we should be better, not worse. We should be new creations in Christ’ old things passed away, all things new.’ Be clean inside and out. Shun evil. Fear God.
Is shunning evil mean that we entertain ourselves with it? That we watch movies, play video games, or bask in it all day ? Are we the local slander or do we buy any product they are selling. Are we walking pornography, or are we viewing it? Stand up men of God and be encouraged. Job was merely a man just like we are. WWJD – what would Job do. Sometimes it is hard to relate to Jesus due to his absolute perfectness and divine nature; it can seem impossible to match up or relate. However, Job was exactly like you. Actually, he is worse off because he didn’t have the benefit of having the full revealed word of God to encourage him. You do! Stand men of God. Fear God. Shun evil. Walk worthy of the Gospel you where called. Before your offended by this last statement read Philippians 1:27 (27Only let your manner of life be worthy[h] of the gospel of Christ). Follow God’s word not the traditions of man.
Praise the Lord. Let God be right and all men be found a liar.
