Brittany Spears and Job

Have you ever said this phrase: "He/She just needs Jesus?"

I remember when Brittany Spears was going through all of her craziness. I don't know if it is over yet or not, but she isn't in the headlines like she used to be. While she was all over the news feeds for poor parenting choices and shaving her head we had a small group meeting in our home. At one of our small group meetings we were talking about crazy Brittany and all she was going through. One of our group made the suggestion we pray for her rather than shaking our heads at her. I think this is a very good suggestion I am sure Brittany needs prayer just as much as the rest of us. As I think back on it now though, there seemed to be this inference that Brittany needed Jesus, like she didn't have him yet. If she just knew God then things would be working out better for her, she would be making better decisions.

This suggestion feels similar to what is happening in Job chap 18. Bildad is once again going off about how the wicked never prosper, their days are cut short, and their wealth is taken away; all the horrible things that happen to the wicked. He finishes his description with the statement, "such is the place of the one who knows not God." The insinuation can't be missed. Bildad is telling Job, you don't know God. Job you need Jesus, let me pray for you. If you just knew God then these horrible things wouldn't be happening to you.

I remember feeling so kind and generous about our decision to pray for Brittany instead of condemning her like the rest of the world seemed to be doing. We knew she just needed Jesus.

Job responds to Bildad's accusation in chap 19. He continues to assert it is God who has brought this suffering on him. God is tearing him apart, he has only escaped death by the skin of his teeth. His friends have now betrayed him as well, bringing no comfort and accusing him of not knowing God. In the middle of this chapter, and the middle of the whole book of Job by the way, Job cries out,"25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

Don't you understand my foolish friends. I know God! I know he lives and I know I will see him. After I have perished, when my flesh has failed, after I have been rotting in the grave He will bring me back and I will see him.

Does Job need God? Yes! He already has God. He believes in his redeemer, he holds on to his redeemer, he knows he will see God and he longs for it. When we see people in hard situations in life and we think, "wow, that person needs Jesus." Who is to say they don't already have him.

"But Brittany was making these horrible decisions and she obviously wasn't doing to right thing for herself or her children." Are any of us perfect? Have you lived today without making a mistake, something you wish you could have done differently?

When the woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus he told the pharisees, "He who is without sin cast the first stone." I wonder sometimes today if our stones are wrapped in prayers. I am not saying we shouldn't pray for people who are in need or in a hard place in life, please do pray. I'm just saying perhaps we need to check out hearts when we pray. Are we assuming less of their connection with God? Or are we truly praying out of compassion and a heart felt empathy for them.

I am reminded of an old Steve Camp song, "Don't tell them Jesus loves them until your ready to love them too. Till your heart breaks from the sorrow and the pain they're going through. With a life full of compassion may we do what we must do. Don't tell them Jesus loves them, till your ready to love them too."

May we recognize today, we all need Jesus and knowing him is eternal life even when it doesn't feel like it or look like it from the outside. Pray for me and I will pray for you as well. In fact I hope Brittany is praying for us too.