CHAPTER 3 - PRIDE
Another position shared by many theologians is that Job’s pride, his claim to being righteous is what caused his problems. This position is backed up by the most scriptures and for that reason I give the many theologians who share this position some kudos. I can only say good point to those who have a strong supply of scripture support. Let us look at some of their supporting evidences.
Job 9:15 (Job speaking)
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. KJV
Job 17:8-10 (Job speaking)
8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. KJV
Job 23:5-7 (Job speaking)
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. KJV
Job 27:5-6 (Job speaking)
5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. KJV
Job 32:1 (The author speaking)
32:1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. KJV
Job 34:5 (Elihu speaking)
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. KJV
Job 40:8 (The Lord speaking)
Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? KJV
One can clearly see why I am almost persuaded to take the theologians doctrine as complete in our assessment of the sin of Job. It is recorded in multiple witnesses that Job thought he was righteous. It is also believed by some that to think such a thought is prideful, thus concluding a sin of Job, or more prevalent the sin of Job. For we all believe that pride is a sin according to
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. KJV
And
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. KJV
And
Proverbs 29:23
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. KJV
All these verses are truth and pride is a serious problem, but here again as noted earlier the Lord didn’t mention this as a problem in chapter 1. We all know that pride develops over time, it is not a sudden manifestation. Pride is a hardening of the heart which God hates and for that reason alone I do not think that this was Job’s ultimate sin. Yes, Job thought he was righteous and some pride was found in Job as we will show later in this study. However for one to think of themselves as righteous because of their understanding of God’s will is not a sin, according to the following scriptures we should possess that same thought of being righteous, simply because God looks at us that way:
2 Chronicles 6:23
Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness. KJV
And
Psalm 37:25
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. KJV
And
Psalm 37:29-30
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. KJV
And
Romans 5:19
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. KJV
And
2 Corinthians 5:20-21
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. KJV
And
Revelation 22:11
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. KJV
All these previous verses and many more plainly and openly declare that God considers His saints as righteous people. So if we, in agreement with God, consider ourselves as righteous people that is not a sin. Job knew that if he feared God he would live a certain way thus giving him confidence that he truly is a righteous man. I would also draw that same conclusion, especially during times of testing. During the tough times is when people question whether or not they are really saved because the apparent natural evidences would seem to indicate otherwise. In those days, just as some believe today, there is no place in biblical theology to simply state “I don’t know why this or that happened”. It is easy to say if you are humble, but very difficult for the proud man to utter. In Job defense from his presumptuous accusations he held unto his righteousness and integrity. Pleading with his friends that he was not wicked. As history proves, whenever one tries to plead his innocents he is automatically condemned by man. The enemy loves to imply a guilty sentence upon man whether there is any real evidence or not. We saw this in Job 1:11 and 2:4,5. Job’s three friends fell into this trap, we would be wise not to follow their suit. I can honestly say that yes, Job thought he was righteous but that in itself was not Job’s ultimate sin because many of God’s saints thought that and rightfully so. I know it is wrong for us to trust in our own righteousness by works apart from God’s Law, but it is acceptable by faith to trust in God’s righteousness making us righteous before him. This is where we enter into the fourth doctrine.