MAR 20

Job 23:10-12
Memorise Proverbs 4:5
“I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food”

WHAT PRIORITY DO YOU PLACE ON GOD’S WORD?

Some people live to eat, others eat to live. Whatever your relationship with food is like, one thing is common to everyone – we need to eat. We may be able to skip a meal or two from time to time, but if we were to go for a whole day without food, our body will soon start to weaken. Longer than that, our body will soon start to fail, and we will die of starvation. I think you will all agree with me that food is a definite necessity of life.

You know the story of Job – how he suffered from the loss not only of all his properties and his children, but also from a terrible skin disease. But he never blamed God. In verse 10, we see that he took this as a trial of faith. He may not have the Bible that we have now, but whatever he knew of God’s word, he had kept them faithfully, and never declined from them. His firm conviction was that no matter what circumstances he was in, he must never turn away from the commandments of God, for he esteemed the word of God even more than food! This meant that he had a great respect and love for the Word of God, such that keeping God’s Word was more important to him than even the food that sustains his physical body. In this we see the priority of Job, for he knew that his spiritual life is far more important than his physical. Physically, he was suffering greatly, and his body must have been weakened from all the pain of his disease. Yet amidst all that, his soul was healthier than ever, for he was abiding in God amidst his trials.

Indeed what an excellent testimony we can all learn from. Job was physically so rich, but lost almost everything. When he had nothing, his priorities never changed. He was still the same godly man who knew the importance of the Word of God. He did not allow his circumstances to change him. Instead, he clung tightly to the one thing which he knew that would sustain him through his toughest trial.

Dear teen, how important is the Word of God to you? We may never go through the same trials that Job had to go through, but our priorities must be like his. For many of us, we prioritise so many things above God and His Word. We spend all our time chasing after the things of the world, in entertainments, eating, studies, socialising. Then only with what little time we have left, we spend with God. Is this how our priorities ought to be?

Thought: The word of God is indeed a “pearl of great prize”!
Prayer: Lord, teach me to have Thee first in my heart. Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart.