June 30: What Do I Do Now?

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Neighbor Nights in July
Flyers in your tubs for use during the session when you discuss Job's treatment of people. 
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Bible Study Session
The primary source for this week's suggestions is the ETB Leader Guide teaching suggestions, pp60-61, and the ETB Leader Guide Commentary. 

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THE TARGET
Focus on what adults should leave knowing, understanding, and doing.

Adults will be able to use Job's reflection on his own ethical standards to formulate a list of godly ethical standards and commit to living by those standards.

Resources to Consider Using

• Option for "Look Up": As an optional opening learning activity, you might want to consider using the tape measure activity found on page 25 of QuickSource.

• In advance, write the following on the markerboard: I am ethical! Write the following points below the statement: (1) Honest and Faithful; (2) Fair and Merciful; (3) Focused on God; (4) Compassionate and Understanding.

• "Neighbor Nights in July" Handout: Please use this as a part of your teaching plan. I have suggested location for its use in the Teaching Plan Suggestions below. Click link to preview handout.

TEACHING PLAN SUGGESTIONS

Look Up: "Soft Methods" to draw attention to the study as adults are visiting and gathering for Bible study.

Once most adults have arrived, call attention to the statement, "I am ethical," written on the markerboard.

Discuss:

• When you saw this statement, what was your first thought?
• Ask the group to share some of the ethics issues mentioned in the news today (examples to include: IRS issues, Benghazi, Snowden's release of top secret information, etc.)
• How did people in these situations justify their ethics or lack thereof?
• How would people respond to this statement today?
• What standards do people use today to define what an ethical person might look like?
• How would you describe someone who is ethical?
• How do we measure our ethics? How does the world do that today?

Transition:
Today we are going to look at a set of ethical standards in which Job measured his integrity. 

Look In: Supplemental ideas for unpacking the text.

Context
Previously, Job's friends had relentlessly tried to convince Job that his guilt was due to some sin. Job continually defended his faith in God. Last week we saw Job acknowledge that the wisdom for which he was searching could only come from fearing God and turning from evil -- two things he was already doing. Now, though, Job is reflecting back on all that has taken place. He is still struggling.

In chapter 29, Job recalled his life before tragedy struck. He yearned for the happiness he once experienced. At that time he lived in affluence and prestige. His family surrounded him. His godly wisdom and political insight dominated the government. Yet he had not been selfish. He used his influence to help the less fortunate. Consequently, he imagined at the time that his life never would change.

In chapter 30, Job’s remembrance of the past yielded to reflection on the present. People’s respect for him had vanished. He had lost his wealth, family, health, and reputation. Job’s misery over his sudden reversal of fortune erupted in a series of accusations against God. These charges were spoken directly to God and revealed Job’s honesty when he talked with God. Job was bitter because he felt his prayers had gone unanswered. Therefore, he could not contain his emotion as he awaited his death, which he believed would be very soon.

As we focus on chapter 31, Job concludes his speaking. His debate with his three friends has collapsed. They have fallen silent, unable to refute his arguments. He would not speak again until God spoke directly to him. Job’s concluding words were an emphatic declaration of innocence. He supported his denial with specific examples of his conduct. He was so confident of his virtue that he pleaded for God to examine each claim. He hoped to compel God to speak with him and to clear his name. We will use the kind of ethical life Job chose to live as a guide for developing and adopting our own set of godly ethical standards.
 
Be Honest and Faithful - Read aloud Job 31:5-6, 9-10

Job focuses first on honesty and faithfulness (refer to marker board point). After denying that he had desired other women in verses 1-4, he turns his attention to his honesty. He focuses on his honesty toward God and his faithfulness to his wife.

Discuss:

• To Job, whose judgment about his lifestyle was most important and why? (31:5-6)
• Would we ever consider saying what Job said about God? Would we say, "Let God weigh me with an accurate balance"? What is this a picture of? (humility, complete surrender, submission). Isn't this the way we should approach God daily? What prevents us from doing so?
• Job used the word "if" a lot throughout these passages. What is he communicating by using the word "if"?
• What did his "if" mean regarding his faithfulness to his wife? (He was so convinced of his faithfulness to her that he was willing to say the she could be handed over to other men if he was guilty.)

Transition:
Next, Job denied that he had abused the power and influence which his social status conferred on him. He began this phase of his case by eliminating any accusation that he abused his servants. The next passages focus on his being fair and merciful (refer to marker board point).

Be Fair and Merciful - Someone Read Job 31:13-17) 

Discovery Study Guide, p38: Review all the ways Job cared for others. (discuss)

Discuss:

• How would you describe Job's attitude toward accountability as he defends his treatment of servants? (Job insisted that if someone complained about his treatment of servants, he would listen to them. He did not reject outright any charge leveled against him. His openness to hearing complaints against him reveals that Job possessed a higher standard of conduct for himself than was common among his peers.) 
• In verse 14, what was Job's basis for benevolence toward his servants? (His own status with God. He was God’s servant. Therefore, he could not expect to receive from God better justice than he was willing to give to those who served him.  
• What motivates you to do what you do? 
• In your opinion, what motivates most people to fail to apply godly standards?

After completing the subject of his proper treatment of his servants, Job focuses on his treatment of the poor and helpless. 

• The poor, the widow, and the orphan provided him with identifiable examples of this treatment.
• Eliphaz blamed Job’s present suffering on Job’s alleged abuse of the poor. Job had denied the charge (see 29:12).
• Job had been very generous in his charity. 
• The destitute who came to Job for help were able to eat and be satisfied. Let the widow’s eyes go blind was an idiom that meant needy widows who looked to him for help never were denied assistance. 
• Job previously insisted that he fed the hungry.  Job vowed that he had met the needs of the starving poor before he satisfied his own appetite.
• How would you describe treating people fairly and mercifully today?

Of the needs we have discussed, how many can you check off because you've met them in the last month? In the last year? Explain how we have opportunities to be intentional in July as we continue our focus on looking out over our rooftops.
   
"Neighbor Nights in July" Handout: Distribute the "Neighbor Nights in July" handout.

• Explain that we are continuing to look outward over the rooftops of our city as we focus on our neighbors and others we come in contact with.
• During July, choose a time or times when you can be intentional about showing the love and mercy of God to those around you. 
• Ask the group to review the list of ideas. Discuss which ones they could do individually or as a group. 
• Remind them that this isn't something they have to do every week, although, they should strive to become more sensitive to those around them who need their Christian witness and integrity.

Transition:
As Job painstakingly outlined, his kindness extended to the most disadvantaged in life, the poor, widowed, fatherless, hungry, and naked. He cared about others to the point that he looked after their basic human needs.
 
Be Focused on God -- Read Job 31:24-28.
Not only did Job proclaim his innocence by stating that he was honest and faithful, fair and merciful, but he also was emphatic that he was focused on God (refer to marker board point).

Discuss:

• How did Job defend his declaration that he was focused on God? ( He didn't trust in riches more than God; He didn't take more pleasure in things than God; He didn't deify anything else in the place of God, including the sun or moon.) 
• Where in culture do you see evidence of the idolatry of either wealth or nature? What would be compared to "blowing a kiss" in our culture today? (Blowing a kiss to the moon denied God and was an act of worship.)
• What are some items in your life that could become competition with God for your attention? What are some ways you can prevent these from taking away your focus on God? (31:24) 
• What would your life look like without material goods? 
• What image comes to mind as you consider a life without God? 
• How does a realization of what God did in sending Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for your sin and provide a relationship with God, help you stay focused on God? 

Discovery Study Guide, p38: What kinds of safeguards could someone put in place to ensure that accumulating or managing wealth does not become the priority?


Transition:
If this list wasn't big enough already, Job now focuses on his compassion and understanding.
 
Be Compassionate and Understanding - Someone Read Job 31:29-34
Job continued his self-examination, he emphasized his caring attitude toward the misfortune of his enemies. Even though some people hated him, Job still had compassion for them and wished them no harm. His plight obviously caused him to wish for the days when people respected him. 

Discuss:

• What did Job say about the accusations concerning his treatment of others? (see verse 31-32)
• What can you do to become a more compassionate person? 
• To whom do you need to demonstrate more understanding?

Transition:

Read Job 31:33-34 again. Emphasize that Job emphatically states that he was not hiding anything from God or anyone else. He didn't fear scrutiny by God, the crowds, clans, or anyone else. His life was an open book. 

Look Out: Hitting the target and applying it to daily living.

Discovery Guide, p37
For some people, asking God to examine their lives ranks with inviting the IRS to audit their taxes or their boss to evaluate their work.

Application (Choose any or all of these to help hit the target)

• Why do we face such scrutiny with such hesitancy? 
• What if you were Job and you were making your case for innocence based on Job's list of standards (Refer to the marker board list). Which one of these standards would you not be able to make a case for? 
• What would you have said to God if you were Job and felt you were innocent after reviewing all this list? Would you have been angry at God, given up, or felt relieved that it wasn't sin that caused your suffering? (Remind the group that Job's love for God was deeper than his wealth, possessions, and reputation. Read chapter 1:9-11 to remind them of the conversation between God and Satan about Job. Job loved God, not because of his circumstances but because of a relationship he had developed with God.)
• Since godly people can suffer just as the wicked do, why should anyone seek to live by godly ethical standards? (Living by godly standards does not guarantee a pain-free life. Still, the effort to live by God's values is worth it.)  
• What life issues make it challenging for you to live by godly standards? Which one of Job's standards relates to those challenges? (Refer to list on marker board)
  Which of the standards would you be most fearful of reporting to God? (refer to the board list from Job's life) What can you do to change or strengthen that area of your life?
• How can you stay honest with God regarding your behavior?

Job invited scrutiny because he knew he could pass the test. He was convinced that he was innocent! Wouldn't you like to be like that! 
 

Encourage learners to use the next week for self-reflection and examination. Remind them that, while Job struggled with what life handed him, he maintained his integrity and honor, and still drew strength from the Lord.