Laughingstock
I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock. In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip. The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.
Job 12:4-6
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Laughingstock
“The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.” “Only the good die young.” There are many sayings such as these which we use to describe our frustration at a seemingly unfair world. Job does the same here as he speaks of “the tent of robbers are at peace.” He sees himself as a just and blameless man, not sinless, but one who strives at a godly life. And God has said as much about Job. So it is hard for him when he sees himself as a laughingstock and an object of scorn to his friends, while those who live openly sinful and godless lives seem to prosper. We Christians can relate. The world looks down upon those who profess Christ as their Savior. We are seen as unenlightened rubes who are afraid of what we don’t understand. We are in fact laughingstocks in many parts of our society. Yet this should not change our worldview, this should not affect one’s faith. We have the full revelation of God and He has warned us that this would happen, and far worse. If the world did not spare the Son of God, who are we to expect any better. Therefore, we listen to St. Paul, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).
Job 12:4-6
+
Laughingstock
“The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.” “Only the good die young.” There are many sayings such as these which we use to describe our frustration at a seemingly unfair world. Job does the same here as he speaks of “the tent of robbers are at peace.” He sees himself as a just and blameless man, not sinless, but one who strives at a godly life. And God has said as much about Job. So it is hard for him when he sees himself as a laughingstock and an object of scorn to his friends, while those who live openly sinful and godless lives seem to prosper. We Christians can relate. The world looks down upon those who profess Christ as their Savior. We are seen as unenlightened rubes who are afraid of what we don’t understand. We are in fact laughingstocks in many parts of our society. Yet this should not change our worldview, this should not affect one’s faith. We have the full revelation of God and He has warned us that this would happen, and far worse. If the world did not spare the Son of God, who are we to expect any better. Therefore, we listen to St. Paul, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).
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