One ThingSample

The One Thing You Can’t Earn

“[Job] would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ‘It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus Job did continually” (Job 1:5, ESV).

Job’s story is one of faithful endurance through unimaginable suffering. But before all the tragedies befell him, Job lived an enviable life. In Job 1, we meet this man from the land of Uz who was morally blameless and upright, and “the greatest of all the people in the east.”

Job was extraordinarily wealthy, owning vast herds of livestock, employing many servants, and holding a position of great influence in his community. But beyond his material blessings, he enjoyed something even more precious: a close-knit and loving family. His ten children regularly gathered for feasts and birthday celebrations, inviting one another into their homes for food and fellowship.

Perhaps Job enjoyed these family get-togethers, but he left concerned with just how much his children enjoyed their revelry and play. Sensitive to the possibility of hidden sin, the next day, he rose early to sacrifice burnt offerings on behalf of his children, just in case they had sinned in their hearts. Job wasn’t content with surface-level righteousness; he was interested in the hidden motives of the heart.

Job’s pursuit of uprightness is precisely what drew God’s attention and Satan’s accusation. Satan accused Job before God that his righteousness wasn’t from a pure heart—he was only in it for the blessings. He challenged God to remove his hand of protection and blessing, and Job would curse him. But God knew that while Job’s suffering would be great, he would emerge victorious. Over time, Job came to accept his lot; he clung to God even while he wrestled with why.

“Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face” (Job 13:15, ESV).

We may resist identifying with Job because his suffering was so extraordinary. But you may recognize traits in Job that you possess as well: a desire to do good, attentiveness to detail, and a deep longing to stay in a close relationship with God.

These are praiseworthy qualities, but if we think they are the reason we’re experiencing blessings, they can become burdensome. This might look like an inner wrestling that asks: Am I doing enough for God? Did I read and pray enough today? What can I do to make my quiet times more productive or spiritually fruitful?

Job clung to God when all his efforts failed and his world unraveled. In the end, God didn’t just restore his fortune; he revealed himself as compassionate and merciful amid Job’s suffering (Jas. 5:11).

You can trust that your story, though undoubtedly marked by suffering and imperfection, is also being held together by a compassionate and merciful God. Our time in the Word doesn’t earn God’s favor, but it puts us in a position to enjoy his presence and know his heart. This is the pursuit of holy leisure. It’s a gentle shift from constant striving to confident abiding. You don’t have to be perfect in your quiet times; you just need to remain close to the One who is.