Formulas can offer clarity. Give me a formula or a plan and I will gladly implement it. Buried in the book of Job is a formula for testing our hearts. Why does this matter? Because the LORD of heaven who loves us so, values our hearts and desires for them to be fully committed to Him. This is truly God’s best plan for our lives when we are living in God’s will and His purposes. That’s why the Bible encourages protection of our hearts and repeats over and over their importance.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23
“Where your heart is, your treasure will be also.” Matthew 6:21
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Matthew 15:19
Just like a good diet and exercise can contribute to a healthy physical heart, Job’s checklist builds a healthy spiritual heart. Here is what God had to say about Job in Job Chapter 1, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
To wholeheartedly follow God, Job’s formula is a helpful tool. It is an opportunity for each individual believer to intentionally examine their hearts and re-align it with the things that matter to God. We can confess and repent of any areas that are not ok in God’s eyes. A definition of the word repent is to be sorry and commit to change. One great visual example of what repentance looks like is if you are walking one direction, you completely change direction and make an about face. When I repent from my sin, does it look like that?
A beautiful thing happens when we confess our failings to God and when we ask like David did. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” Psalm 51:10. Through faith in Jesus, when we apologize and change our behavior, we are forgiven and washed clean. As God’s Word says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Jesus not only forgives us, but He removes our sin from us and frees us from sin’s penalty. The penalty of sin is eternal death, but the salvation gift God offers is eternal life in heaven forever with Him. Faith in Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit frees us also from the slavery of sin. Disobedience to God leads to more and more sin and before we know it, we will find ourselves stuck. Through Jesus we can be free to serve and obey Him because of his great love for us and sacrificial death on the cross.
Job’s heart checklist is found in Job 31. At this exact time in his life, Job is gravely suffering. His body is covered in painful boils, he lost all his multiple businesses, and each of his ten children were killed in a single day. To make matters even worse, Job’s three good “friends” stood around him in judgment telling Job that he needs to confess because his own sins were the cause of his many misfortunes. Can you imagine in the depth of your greatest pain, your friends say it’s your fault? In this seemingly impossible moment, Job provides each of us a timeless checklist for the testing of our human hearts.
For the record, even though Job’s friends are quick to judge him, God himself speaks about Job’s godliness in Job 1:8 “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Wow!! To be called blameless and upright by a perfect God?? What intentional steps did Job take to live this upright life our holy God described? The list in Job 31 gives us insight into how Job lived and how Job thought and there is much we can learn from it today. Let’s look at it together.
Verse 1: “Job made a covenant with his eyes” – Job made a promise, another word for covenant, not to gaze or longingly stare at a young women with desire for her in his heart. Job’s example is a sexual idol. Although Job’s application is specific, we can apply his practice for any idol in our life. We can each make a covenant with our eyes to not set our desires on any idol – anything we put above our relationship with God. This heart check requires an intentionality regarding anything we fix our eyes. Instead of staring at anything or anyone with longing and desire, we need to follow Job’s example to purposefully promise where we set our eyes. Whether it’s a car or an outfit or a house or a beautiful person or whatever captivates our heart’s desire, we commit in advance to avert our eyes. One more thing, our humanness has a way of ignoring our own individual failings. To prevent this problem, we can ask God regularly to show us any areas we are focusing on instead of surrendering each one to Him. By making a habit of asking God to expose any personal blind spots, He can reveal the condition of our heart and at the same time forgive and free us.
Verse 5: The next item on Job’s healthy heart formula is that Job is intentional that he not “walk in falsehood”. Living a lie or acting to deceive are both disobedient to God. Using this item on Job’s checklist, we can ask God to expose any area of dishonesty in our life or any area where we are acting or even living a lie. Once God reveals the idols in our life, are we repenting and are our actions reflecting a change? Or are we ignoring them? When we live in denial, we are walking in falsehood. Are we being honest about our feelings to others? Are we pretending to act a certain way or do a task just to please people? What are the motives of our heart? Sometimes even church work can have selfish motivations. Are we working where God called us or are we working because someone else called us there and we’re afraid to say no? Also, is there something we need to confess to someone? Is there a blind spot where we are in denial? The number of ways we can deceive ourselves and walk in dishonesty are unlimited. Only by God’s goodness and grace, can the Holy Spirit give us eyes to see. And only by His forgiveness can we live forgiven and free.
Verse 7: Job mentions “if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands.” When we don’t choose God’s way of honor and obedience to Him, we are “turning aside from the way.” When we fail to avert our gaze from desiring a person or possession, our hearts can follow our eyes. Our hearts are created to be wholeheartedly devoted to God alone. When a “spot is stuck to our hands,” we are breaking from obedience to God and providing a mark or stain on our hands. Job’s test for a healthy heart requires us to admit, apologize, repent, and re-align our hearts with God. When we repent, God alone can cleanse with the precious blood of Jesus’s death on the cross as the only payment for our sin. God is the only one who can wash the sin stain stuck on our hands.
Verse 9: Job’s next item is checking if his heart has “been enticed by a woman or lurked at my neighbor’s door.” Job understands the danger of following his eyes’ desire and falling into the sin of unfaithfulness to his wife. Our hearts need to be fully obedient to God and therefore completely committed to our marriage vows and our spouse or to sexual purity if we are single. If we are being enticed by someone, we need to recognize and flee, in obedience to God just like Joseph did in Genesis 39. Also, if there is an opportunity to sin in a specific place or with a specific person, we need to avoid it. For example, a specific website or place where a sinful opportunity presents itself – is a time we intentionally choose to avoid those places and positions. On its face, the website or place could be seen innocent, but if it’s a place that leads us to somewhere unhealthy, we need to intentionally commit in advance to avoid it. For instance, if we have a temptation to gamble, overeat, shop excessively, pornography, etc, we need to have an intentional plan. The marketers’ goal is to entice our hearts to the product they are selling. Job recognizes to keep our hearts healthy; we need to decide in advance on to whom and to where we go.
Verse 13: Job mentions if he “rejected a plea by his man or maidservant when they have brought a complaint against me.” In Job’s example these were positions where he had authority and power over the individuals. Where in our life has someone brought a complaint against us? Is there anywhere in our homes or in our jobs where we have ignored a plea? Have we prayed and asked God to show us His truth in the circumstance? If we were wrong, have we responded with a sincere apology and change of our behavior? Have we sincerely recognized the pain our unjust actions may have caused others whether intentional or unintentional? Have we done everything in our power to grant restitution and live at peace with all the people in our lives? Have we asked God to reveal any blind spots in this area of our lives?
Verse 16-17: Job recognizes God’s heart for the widows and poor among him. Who in our lives is in need? Have we done everything in our power to help them? Job gives us a great example on what to do here. Job invited them to his table regularly and shared what he had with them. Are we inviting those with needs into our homes and giving what we have to the poor? Are we sharing from the abundance of God’s blessing to us through the blessing of others? Are we seeking to serve those in need? What could we be sharing? Who could we be encouraging? Have you asked God to show you who He desires you to serve either with words of kindness or with invitations?
Verse 19 Job, as a sheep owner, had access to wool for clothing. He sees at his responsibility to give clothing to anyone in need. What do we possess that we can share with others? Is it our time? Is it a meal? Is it housecleaning? Is it a walk? Are we actively looking for ways and asking God what it is we have to give to others?
Verse 21 Job knew that if it was in his power to help an orphan, that he was to do it. Who is in our power to help? Are we taking time to help them? Are we asking God who He is calling us to help? Are we put in a position of power where we could take advantage of someone? Are we aware of how our actions may affect others? Is someone being slighted by our choices or are we using someone for our own selfish purposes?
Verses 24-25 Job believed that everything he owned came from God. His heart check for us in these verses is to make sure we are not trusting in our money or wealth. Is our faith in God or in our home and possessions and bank account? Are we surrendering all our wealth to God who gives us everything in the first place? Are we seeking God in times of trouble, or are we finding comfort in our bank accounts?
Verses 26-28 Job is recognizing how it is wrong to worship creation instead of the creator. All creation should point to our Creator with celebration and worship. The earth and sun and moon are incredible, but in and of themselves are nothing compared to the God who made them. We can also be tempted to kiss our own hands, but it is the God who created us and alone deserves our absolute devotion and worship.
Verses 29-30 Job knew it was wrong to celebrate when bad things happened to those who did not like him or those who hurt him. He knew the heart of God requires us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. If we wish ill toward others, we are guilty of sinful thoughts and our hearts are filled with bitterness and unforgiveness. If we wish ill will on someone, we have not forgiven. Have we asked God to expose any area of unforgiveness in our life?
Verses 31-32 Job sees the sin of inhospitality in these verses. Job recognized sharing his home and table are places that God wants us to be willing to share and not to be stingy in the sharing. Is your home a place of generosity and welcome? Who is God calling you to invite in?
Verses 33-37 Job recognizes how shame (feelings of unworthiness) and unconfessed sin damages our hearts. He sees how fear of people and family in sharing a confession is an idol of self-protection and people-pleasing. Job advises not to live in fear of people or adversaries but instead to live boldly and fearless because we only answer to God.
Verse 38 Job recognizes that the earth is his responsibility, and that God expects us to be good stewards of the land. We should not abuse the resources of the earth and we should take care of them. We should respect and be wise in our use of them.
Verses 39-40 Job acknowledges that we should not take the profits that we receive unjustly. We should not steal and kill ever, but especially for our own financial and selfish gain. We should deal justly, love mercy, and walk humbly as in Micah 2:5.
Job’s Final Appeal
31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
how then could I gaze at a virgin?
2 What would be my portion from God above
and my heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous,
and disaster for the workers of iniquity?
4 Does not he see my ways
and number all my steps?
5 “If I have walked with falsehood
and my foot has hastened to deceit;
6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance,
and let God know my integrity!)
7 if my step has turned aside from the way
and my heart has gone after my eyes,
and if any spot has stuck to my hands,
8 then let me sow, and another eat,
and let what grows for me[a] be rooted out.
9 “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman,
and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door,
10 then let my wife grind for another,
and let others bow down on her.
11 For that would be a heinous crime;
that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;
12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon,
and it would burn to the root all my increase.
13 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant,
when they brought a complaint against me,
14 what then shall I do when God rises up?
When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?
15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him?
And did not one fashion us in the womb?
16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired,
or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 or have eaten my morsel alone,
and the fatherless has not eaten of it
18 (for from my youth the fatherless[b] grew up with me as with a father,
and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow[c]),
19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
or the needy without covering,
20 if his body has not blessed me,[d]
and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
because I saw my help in the gate,
22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,
and let my arm be broken from its socket.
23 For I was in terror of calamity from God,
and I could not have faced his majesty.
24 “If I have made gold my trust
or called fine gold my confidence,
25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant
or because my hand had found much,
26 if I have looked at the sun[e] when it shone,
or the moon moving in splendor,
27 and my heart has been secretly enticed,
and my mouth has kissed my hand,
28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges,
for I would have been false to God above.
29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me,
or exulted when evil overtook him
30 (I have not let my mouth sin
by asking for his life with a curse),
31 if the men of my tent have not said,
‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?’
32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street;
I have opened my doors to the traveler),
33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do[f]
by hiding my iniquity in my heart,
34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude,
and the contempt of families terrified me,
so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—
35 Oh, that I had one to hear me!
(Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!)
Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder;
I would bind it on me as a crown;
37 I would give him an account of all my steps;
like a prince I would approach him.
38 “If my land has cried out against me
and its furrows have wept together,
39 if I have eaten its yield without payment
and made its owners breathe their last,
40 let thorns grow instead of wheat,
and foul weeds instead of barley.