What can we learn about stewardship from Job's family size in Job 1:2? Reading the Text “Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.” (Job 1:2) A Snapshot of Job’s Household • Ten children—an unmistakable sign of God’s tangible blessing (Psalm 127:3–5). • Numbers matter: seven (often linked with completeness) plus three (often tied to wholeness) underscore fullness, yet the narrative treats them as literal people whose lives, needs, and futures Job must steward. • Job’s later actions—offering sacrifices on their behalf (Job 1:5)—show he took that stewardship seriously. Stewardship Lessons from a Large Family • Children are entrusted, not owned. Genesis 1:28 calls parents to “be fruitful and multiply,” but it also commissions rule and care. Job lived both sides: recipient of children and caretaker of their spiritual welfare. • Provision is part of godliness. “If anyone does not provide for his own… he has denied the faith” (1 Timothy 5:8). Job’s wealth (Job 1:3) wasn’t hoarded; it was organized to sustain a household of twelve adults. • Faithful in little, ruler over much (Luke 16:10). His management of ten lives prefigures God’s commendation of Job’s integrity (Job 1:8). • Responsibility scales with blessing. The more God grants, the more intentional we must be (Luke 12:48). Job models this principle long before Jesus stated it. Managing Material Resources • Budgeting livestock and servants (Job 1:3) so every child’s daily needs were met. • Leaving an inheritance: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22). Job’s estate was large enough to bless grandchildren not yet born. • Preparing for loss: stewardship isn’t ownership. When livestock and children are taken (Job 1:13–19), Job still says, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away” (Job 1:21). True stewardship recognizes God’s ultimate ownership. Guarding Relationships • Spiritual leadership: Job “would rise early… and offer burnt offerings” (Job 1:5). Materials were directed toward worship, not mere comfort. • Family unity: regular feasts (Job 1:4) imply Job funded gatherings that kept siblings close, illustrating that stewarding relationships can require tangible expense. • Moral accountability: he interceded “in case my children have sinned” (Job 1:5). Financial provision without moral oversight is incomplete stewardship. A Trustworthy Testimony • Satan targets Job’s stewardship precisely because it is effective (Job 1:10–11). • Integrity with abundance silences accusation (Philippians 2:15). Job’s righteous handling of a big family exposed the adversary’s lie that blessing must corrupt. Practical Takeaways for Today • View every family member—whether one child or ten—as a divine assignment. • Budget generously for spiritual priorities: worship, fellowship, discipleship. • Hold resources loosely; hold people dearly. • Remember: increase multiplies responsibility, not leisure. • Let integrity, not prosperity, define success. |
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