Job was the holiest person on the face of the earth. There was "no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil" (Jb 1:8). Because he was so open to God's graces, he was able to receive from God a beautiful family and many other blessings. So Satan accused Job of serving God for the benefits and not from pure love. God let Job prove Satan wrong by letting Satan destroy Job's family and bankrupt Job all in one day. Job continued to love God even in severe adversity. Job proclaimed: "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!" (Jb 1:21) Job served God not for perishable benefits (see Jn 6:27), but from true love. Job's motives for serving God were not mixed but pure motives. Job loved God unconditionally, as God loved him.

Why are you a Christian? Would you love the Lord even if there was no heaven or hell? Would you love God if He let your spouse or children die tragically? Would you love God if He gave you adversity instead of prosperity? Would you praise God even if you were confused about what He was permitting in your life? Are you willing to say: "Though the fig tree blossom not nor fruit be on the vines, though the yield of the olive fail and the terraces produce no nourishment, though the flocks disappear from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet will I rejoice in the Lord and exult in my saving God"? (Hab 3:17- 18)

Look at Jesus on the cross. Love God unconditionally.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, January 29, 1996

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 5, 1996