Yet man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Job 5:7.
I’m not qualified to be a translator but what I see in this scripture is this: mankind suffers the consequences of sin just as sure as embers fly from the fire.
Troubles spring from man’s common sin by as necessary a law of natural consequences as sparks (Hebrew, “sons of coal”) fly upward.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 313.
Trouble is a natural consequence of sin. That means that all people have to deal with trouble in one way or another. You know as well as I do that there are many ways to deal with trouble. For example some choose to drink alcohol or consume some other chemical for a brief repreve only to have to deal with it when reality returns. This is dissipation (Eph 5:18).
We know that scripture tells us to cast our cares upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). But what about our neighbors? How do we help them? Galatians 6:2 says: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”. Not only do we have to deal with our problems but we need to help our family in Christ deal with theirs too! We do this because of not only our love for Christ but out of love for Christ. The love of Christ compels us. So what is this law that we fulfill when we bear one another burdens?
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ga 5:13–14.
So let me try to summarize what I got from today’s devotion. Trouble is expected for everyone. You know how to deal with it by giving it to the Lord. In the meantime help others with their troubles as well. This is a sign that you love your neighbor and you are fulfilling the will of God. This makes Him happy.