How can we avoid the fate described in Job 20:17? Setting the Scene: Job 20 : 17 “He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.” What Opens the Door to This Fate? • Zophar is describing the wicked—people who gain quickly, live for self, and ignore God. • Their prosperity is short-lived; when judgment comes, the sweetness dries up. • The real issue is unrepentant sin and a heart that refuses God’s rule. First Safeguard: Turn to Christ and Repent • John 3 : 16 — “everyone who believes in Him shall not perish.” • Acts 3 : 19 — “Repent… that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” • Proverbs 28 : 13 — “He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.” Second Safeguard: Sow Righteousness, Not Self-Indulgence • Galatians 6 : 7-8 — we reap what we sow. • Proverbs 11 : 18 — “he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.” • Daily choices—speech, money, relationships—either feed the flesh or please the Spirit. Third Safeguard: Hold Wealth with Open Hands • 1 Timothy 6 : 17-19 reminds the rich to “set their hope on God… be rich in good works.” • Generosity breaks greed’s grip and channels blessing to others. • Honey and cream lose their lure when we delight more in giving than in getting. Fourth Safeguard: Pursue God’s Kingdom First • Matthew 6 : 33 — “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” • Psalm 1 : 3 — the righteous are “like a tree planted by streams of water,” never cut off from refreshment. • Prioritizing worship, Scripture, and service keeps our appetite fixed on lasting riches. Daily Habits That Keep Us Off the Wrong Path • Start each morning in the Word—let truth set the day’s agenda. • Practice immediate confession when the Spirit convicts. • Schedule regular generosity: percentage giving, spontaneous acts, hospitality. • Choose companions who hunger for righteousness (Proverbs 13 : 20). • End each day with gratitude, tracing God’s faithfulness instead of craving more. Warnings We Dare Not Ignore • Ill-gotten gain is empty (Proverbs 10 : 2). • Earthly treasures vanish (Matthew 6 : 19). • God’s judgment is certain and personal (Romans 2 : 4-6). Promised Outcome for the Faithful • “All these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6 : 33). • “Streams of water… fruit in season” (Psalm 1 : 3). • Eternal life and joy unending in Christ’s presence (John 10 : 10; Revelation 22 : 1-5). Quick Self-Check for Today • My latest financial decision—was it driven by faith or by appetite? • My entertainment choices—do they feed the Spirit or the flesh? • My relationships—am I pursuing mutual holiness? Closing Encouragement Stay near the true Stream—Christ Himself—and the counterfeit rivers of temporary sweetness will lose their appeal. Walk in repentance, sow righteousness, and the Lord will satisfy you with blessings that never dry up. |
    |