Quality is Job 1

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.

4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer 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 Job did regularly.

Ford Motor Company appropriated the slogan, “Quality is Job One,” a few years back, in an attempt to make us think the quality of their cars was the number one goal of the company. Whether this was actually true or just an ad slogan is anyone’s guess, (although we would probably have to admit Ford was not particularly known for producing a high-quality product at the time they adopted the slogan. They have improved lately - as have many American car-makers.)

It is interesting to think you could adopt a slogan in order to improve the quality of the product you are producing - should it be the product is actually of low quality. Can the slogan change the product?

Amazingly, human nature is often changed by focus, which is what slogans are all about. They change the focus.

This is largely what the Bible is about. God’s Word, God’s “slogans” – if you will, designed to change the focus of our lives. In this compilation of 66 books, you are transformed by a never-ending series of slogans designed to move us from self-focus to others- centeredness. Designed to re-orient us to a focus on our eternal condition, and God’s very personal plan of redemption for our lives.

I think about this man Job as an example. An example provided by God. An example of the best mankind has to offer. God says so himself about, “His servant Job.” Have you considered him? Job 1 tells of the innocence, the piety, and the others-centeredness of Job’s life – of which God Himself could and would say, “Take a good look at Job, and all he stands by, and all he stands for.”

For Job, the quality of his life is measured in Job 1, and we have the opportunity to find out how true the quality measured by God’s Words will be. Will Job fail when his world crashes down – or will he stand? I will be watching closely.

- Pastor Bill