几年前，拉丁美洲的马克思/共产主义革命者试图使用圣经支持他们仇恨富人的观点。但约伯（以及其他先祖）的富足是使他们的理论崩塌和沉没的一块石头。
撒旦试图怀疑约伯的动机，说约伯敬畏神祇是因为神使他富足。但神却说“地上再没有人像他完全正直，敬畏神，远离恶事”（伯 1:8）。后来当神许可约伯经历一些困难的时候，证明了神是对的。无论在多么可怕的试炼中，约伯仍然忠心于神。
约伯在苦难中，他的三个朋友来拜访他，目的是为了帮助他。但他们最终却变成指责他，说他受苦是他犯罪的结果。“神还会因何故使人受痛苦？”他们理论道。但正如这卷书所显明的，约伯受苦并不是因为犯罪。在这个破碎世界的某些情况下，苦难的奥秘仍然隐藏在神莫测的计划中。但，我们仍可以信赖祂。
我们可能富有而昌盛，也可能受到苦难和贫穷的挑战。最重要的是，无论什么情况，都要敬畏神，与人分享祂的爱。因为神是信实的，祂持守祂的应许。
主啊，我们感谢你赐下的一切美好。请帮助我们忠心于你，向他人分享你的爱和祝福。阿们。
约伯记 42:10-16
10约伯为他的朋友祈祷，耶和华就使约伯从苦境转回，并且耶和华赐给他的，比他从前所有的加倍。
11约伯的弟兄姐妹和以先所认识的人都来见他，在他家里一同吃饭，又论到耶和华所降于他的一切灾祸，都为他悲伤安慰他，每人也送他一块银子和一个金环。
12这样，耶和华后来赐福给约伯比先前更多。他有一万四千羊，六千骆驼，一千对牛，一千母驴。
13他也有七个儿子，三个女儿。
14他给长女起名叫耶米玛，次女叫基洗亚，三女叫基连哈朴。
15在那全地的妇女中，找不着像约伯的女儿那样美貌。她们的父亲使她们在弟兄中得产业。
16此后，约伯又活了一百四十年，得见他的儿孙，直到四代。
“The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.” — Job 42:12
Not many years ago, Marxist/communist revolutionaries in Latin America tried to make the Bible support their own hatred of the wealthy. But the prosperity of Job (and other patriarchs in the Bible) was a rock on which their theories crashed and sank.
Satan tried to cast doubt on Job’s motives, saying that Job was a faithful servant of God only because God made him prosperous. But God said there was “no one on earth like him ... blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8). And when God allowed Job to go through some tough times, God was proved right. Job remained faithful to God, no matter what terrible trials he had to endure.
In his misery, Job was visited by three friends who aimed to help him. But they ended up accusing him, saying that his suffering had to be a result of some sin he had done. “Why else would God afflict a man?” they reasoned. But Job was not suffering because of some sin, as the book of Job makes clear. In some situations in this broken world, the mystery of suffering remains hidden in God’s inscrutable plan. But we can trust him.
We may be blessed with wealth and prosperity or challenged with suffering and poverty. The main thing is to be faithful to God and share his love with others, whatever the circumstances. For God is faithful and keeps his promises.
We thank you, Lord, for all the good you give us. Help us to be faithful and to share your love and blessings with others. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
