GREAT MAN

1. What are the profiling (outlining) criteria that God sees a man to be great in His eyes? 

a) 1In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2He had seven sons and three daughters, 3and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. (Job 1:1-3 NIV)

i) Profile #1 – Relationship with God.

@1. Job had an intimate relationship with God. He was a man who was blameless and upright (integrity, straightness, honesty); he feared God and shunned (kept away, avoided) evil. He was godly in the sight of God and would ensure that none of his family members would have sins in their hearts against God. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them. He was concerned that his children might have sinned and cursed God in their hearts. This was his regular custom.

#1) How is our relationship with God? Is God first in our life? Or is He given the 2nd or 3rd place in our life? Do we fear God in such a way that we are so careful not to do anything that might break God’s heart? Prov 1: 7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

@2. 24But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, 25since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, 26I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— 27when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. 28"Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, 29since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. 30Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, 31they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. (Proverbs 1:24-31 NIV)

ii) Profile #2 – Responsibilities of family

@1. Job had seven sons and three daughters (#10). His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. Job had trained his children in the ways of the Lord when they were young. Now he would be able to see the fruit of his labor; his family members caring and celebrating feast together as a sign of family unity.

#1) Quite often, we see children are not being trained in the way of the Lord. They are disobedient, stubborn, rebellious and running wild. They tell their parents what to do in order to have their own way. When they grow up, they are disrespectful and even challenge authorities. God is very much concerned of having succeeding generations of godly seeds. Without godly seeds, the future of families, communities, nations and the world at large will be bleak.

@2. 22Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. (Ephesians 5:22-24 NIV)

@3. 18Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. (Colossians 3:18 NIV)

@4. 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. (Ephesians 5:25-33 NIV)

@5. 19Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. (Colossians 3:19 NIV)

@6. 1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3 NIV)

@7. 20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. (Colossians 3:20 NIV)

@8. 4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4 NIV)

@9. 21Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. (Colossians 3:21 NIV)

iii) Profile #3 – Productivity of individual

@1. The last criterion is our business or career in the marketplace. Job owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants.

@2. In the marketplace, we need to adopt this scriptural attitude:

#1) 5Slaves (employees), obey your earthly masters (employers) with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. (Ephesians 6:5-8 NIV)

#2)22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. (Colossians 3:22-25 NIV)

#3) 9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. (Ephesians 6:9 NIV)

#4) 1Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. (Colossians 4:1 NIV)

2. Prayer focus

a) Pray for intimate relationship with God.

b) Pray for strong family relationship.

c) Pray for harmonious relationship in our workplace.