God Outside the Boxნიმუში

A Blameless and Upright Man

This week, we’re going to explore the Book of Job together. One of the more difficult books in the Bible to interpret and apply, the Book of Job paints a picture of life and God that is too frighteningly close to how we ourselves feel.

In this Book, we are confronted with a God who is unchained by our expectations and our theology. We encounter God as He presents Himself to Job in the middle of his confusion and suffering.

This week, we will ask who Job is and what we can learn from him as men, and we will ask who God is, grappling with the reality of His words and actions.

Let’s dive in.

We live in a world seemingly obsessed with titles and definitions. Men are often measured by their careers, achievements, possessions, or the strength of their reputation. When someone asks, “Who are you?” most of us instinctively answer with what we do: our jobs, roles, or accomplishments.

But the Book of Job reminds us of something more, something deeper.

It opens with a clear statement of identity: Job was “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1 NIV)*.

Before we learn anything of his wealth, family, or influence, we are told of his character and relationship with God.

When everything Job had was stripped away—his livelihood, his health, even the support of those closest to him—he didn’t cease to be Job. His possessions and position could be taken away, but his God-shaped identity remained.

Is this true for us? Too often, men cling to identity markers that can vanish overnight: the corner office, the paycheck, the respect of peers, the approval of family. When those are threatened, we’re left grasping, unsure of who we really are.

But the testimony of Job calls us to build on something more solid.

To fear God and shun evil isn’t about religious performance—it’s about alignment. It’s choosing to root your life in the character and authority of the One who made you. That kind of identity doesn’t crumble when hardship comes. Instead, it steadies you to endure, to remain upright even when the storm hits.

If all the external markers of your life disappeared tomorrow, what would remain? Would you still know who you are? Would others?

The answer depends on whether your identity is found in things that can disappear, or in your relationship to the eternal God.

Prayer: God, life seems to call us to the pursuit of many things. But even good things can be a distraction, and they can lead me to value less important things. Help me focus on my relationship with You and the character You call me to. Amen.

Reflection: What are the most important things you want to be known for?

* Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture references will be from the New International Version (NIV).