Receiving Good from God

"Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" Job 2:10

Job had received good from God, and now was facing adversity. His point is that if we accept the good, we should also accept the trials, since both are the design and purpose of God for our lives.

But a "reverse thought" came to my attention because of a couple of circumstances that I observe people are facing. This reverse thought is not the normal way to look at the verse in its context. Normally the challenge is to accept adversity because it is hard. Accepting good is usually easy. But that is not always the case.

On occasion, we may hesitate to accept a good thing from God, as if we do not deserve it, or it is too good, or it is better than someone else has, or we have a false humility about ourselves, or whatever. Have you ever had that feeling? "This situation is too good for me; it is too good to be true; I don't deserve it; God is too kind; etc." Certainly we must guard against covetousness and a focus on worldly prosperity and materialism. But at the same time, God delights also to give good gifts to His children. The best of these gifts awaits us in the heavenly dwelling. Meanwhile...God gives some nice things along the way in this life.

Job thankfully accepted the good things from God. "Shall we indeed accept good from God?" YES, we should. Be thankful for whatever good that God designs for your life right now. Remember, "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17). Learn in whatever state -- whether you abound or are in need -- to be gratefully content (Phil. 4:12).

So, application: if God seems to be providing some good thing for you, thank Him, take it, and make the best use of it you can. Use it to serve the Lord and serve your brothers and sisters around you. But at the same time, work on discerning whether the "good" is truly from the hand of God, or from somewhere else, in which case you should not take it!