The First Children of Job, Unfruitful

Job 1:4 "And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them."

Up to this point Job's children had lived a charmed life; they were able to eat and feast on a regular basis. There is no mention of the work they did or their personal character in fact there is every indication from Job's actions that he had reason to be concerned that they did not share the same devotion to the Lord as he himself did ( 1:5 "And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually."). The brothers would feast on a fairly regular basis and the sisters would join them. This reminds me of many believers who go about life happy go lucky without a care in the world. They are unaware of the work God has called them to do and they simply exist. God want us to have a purpose about us, men and women who are aware of the importance of their lives. God gives to every man or woman a talent, a specific thing that He wants them to do. It could be quite simple or it could be very great but you are the one person who can do it.

God wants us to have a cry and a burden in our heart to serve Him and to have our lives produce fruit; not to only eat drink and be merry. Very early on in my Christianity there was this cry in my spirit "O' God give me fruit! I do not want to appear before you empty". In the parable of the sower (Matthew 13) 75% of the ground brings forth no fruit at all but even among the remaining 25% there are varying degrees of fruitfulness. There are some 30 fold, some 60 fold and some 100 fold. In Johns Gospel chapter 15 we have these three levels of fruitfulness identified for us: it is to bear fruit (30), to bear more fruit (60) and to bear much fruit (100). Jesus says it is your Fathers desire that ye should bear "Much fruit". Joh 15:8 "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." Lets desire to have our lives produce fruit and have meaning.

After Jobs trial he has more children (we learn very shortly in chapter one that he looses his first children as part of his trial) and these children are different, his daughters are mentioned by name and they all obtain a good inheritance. These children are very fruitful and God honors them by mentioning the daughters by name and revealing they were the fairest in the land, godly girls and fruitful children: Job 42:13-15 v 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. v 14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. v 15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren."

"O' God, please make us fruitful!!"