Skin for Skin
- Integrity in Our Walk with Christ
Al Hocutt
October 8, 2006
What does a person of integrity mean to us
these days? Integrity defined: Integrity-Steadfast adherence to a strict
ethical code. The state of being unimpaired; soundness. The quality or
condition of being whole or undivided; completeness. The American
Heritage College Dictionary. The clergy of the NC Annual Conference
are now evaluated with the category of integrity under the heading of
Pastoring. Integrity defined by the Church as part of our evaluation is
–Steadfast adherence to Christian morals and ethics. We might ask
ourselves, why integrity is not understood as a trait of any person that
follows Christ, and especially any pastor called by
God.
This morning we are confronted
with this subject of integrity. The book of Job is seen as a book of
sorrow and raises the question in some peoples’ minds of why bad things
happen to good people. But this morning if we really listen to the word of
God we see that the true question is, what is
God effectiveness on humanity? Can humans be
transformed to love goodness as an end in itself? This story is about
God not Job; sa’tan challenges the
integrity of Job. Does Job love God for
profit and wealth or does Job love God to
save his life?
Sa’tan is the correct
pronunciation of the word. The idea of satan-the evil one i.e. the devil,
had not enter the thought process in the Old Testament. Satan is a New
Testament image of evil-the angel that fell from heaven. Sa’tan was
a member of the heavenly host, not an angel.
God
dangerously enters into a challenge to sa’tan about his servant
Job. God has brought the challenge of Job’s
integrity and love of God to an earthly being
that has choice and like Job, we all are motivated by the wants and
desires of the flesh and not the spirit. Sa’tan seems to put
the focus of his accusation on Job but in reality sa’tan is putting
the focus on God. Sa’tan is trying to
interject a statement of doubt on the divine power of
God. Sa’tan believes that Job is
manipulating the goodness of God for his own
profit. Sa’tan is not concerned with sin or perfection but solely
on the ability of God to influence human
actions.
Sa’tan decides to test
his theory. This Accuser challenges God
to reach out his hand and touch Job, to hurt Job, and he would curse
God to his face. God
agrees with one stipulation-sa’tan could not take Job’s life. Sa’tan
sets about making Job’s life impossible. Job is knocked back but he
survives.
The test begins. The Accuser
questions God about his effectiveness and Job
is left out of the picture, except for the sores and the loss of
everything that he owns! Sa’tan believes that there is no goodness
in humans. Job and God cease to communicate.
Job has three choices;
1. Listen to his
wife—curse God and die. If Job does this then
it proves the point that Job loved God only
because of the wealth and good things in his life.
2. Job could blame
himself-he deserves this punishment. Job’s friends remind him of this. But
here again this proves that God has no
lasting transforming power over humans.
3. The third choice is
that Job holds steadfast to his integrity by holding on to
God. This would answer the question of Job’s
motivation. But then the third choice gives us a twist. Job shows his
independence but at the same time support’s God’s
claim about divine power and influence on humans. Job finally has the last
word. Sa’tan’s claim that goodness did not dwell in humans has been
answered. The decision was Job’s not God’s.
God chooses to enter into the midst of
humanity but it is our choice to receive God
and his love for the glory of his kingdom or for our own personal wealth.
Sa’tan uses the phrase
translated “Skin for Skin.” The better translation should be “Skin up to
Skin.” The term comes from the marketplace. In trading one would trade up
in value but not skin for skin because there would be no advantage in the
trade. Sa’tan uses this phrase in speaking to
God in reference to a person willingness to trade [give up]
everything up--except his life.
Are we willing to give
up everything including our lives to walk with Christ!? Are we a people of
integrity? Johnny’s sermon last week laid the foundation for this week.
The disciples felt they had to stop someone who was not with them from
casting out demons. Jesus reminded them that
their walk was to imitate the life of Christ.
In today’s society morality, integrity, core values are words thrown out
to condemn rather than build up. Society looks for leadership that has
integrity—but it has different meanings for everyone. It almost seems to
be a contest to prove that one has more integrity than another, like a
group of school boys deciding whose daddy can beat up the other daddy. We
seldom hear the statement “that brother or that sister” has integrity in
their walk with the Lord. Why not?
As Christians we all
should hold each other to a high standard and hold each other accountable.
We are so afraid of offending one another that we keep silent. A person
who shows Christian integrity does so not for personal gain but for the
kingdom of God. Sometimes we believe that if
we show up at the right times that is all we need. But to have integrity
we must walk the walk of Christ. We are to
love without boundaries, to forgive without strings attached, to forget
the wrong that has been done to us, to live a life of peace knowing our
strength comes from the Lord, to reach out no matter the color, age, sex,
creed, or nationality of a person, to study the scriptures and never be
satisfied but want more, to pray without ceasing, to tithe and give back
all that belongs to God from the beginning,
to praise and give thanks to God each day of
your life no matter if you are in the valley or on the mountain top, to
trust and have true faith in the God that
gave you life, to bear our afflictions and never curse
God, to have our hearts and spirit dedicated
to Christ and know that it is by his death
and resurrection that we are saved.
Are our lives
steadfast, undivided, made whole, complete, unimpaired and made sound in
Christ as the definition of integrity is
defined for us? As Job we all have decisions to make about our lives.
Decisions that reflect our integrity in Christ
will inform the world who we follow. When we are able to rise up from our
lives of adversity and continue to love and be at peace we continue to
defeat the evil one of this world. Satan tests each of us everyday. Draw
deep into that deep pool of life giving water to wash clean the sores of
sin that infects us all. Be filled with the bread of life that will
sustain us and strengthen us in the journey.
Does goodness dwell in
humans? Does the divine power of Christ enter
into this world or is it about us and the wealth of a good life. Do we
hold tight to God as an end in itself knowing
that he is our Lord and Savior or curse God
and die? Choose! Have integrity in your walk with Christ.
In the name of the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit.
Amen
