The World’s Greatest Cheap Shot

Job was a man that was the epitome of a follower of God. He did everything above and beyond in his devotion to his God. Because of that, God totally blessed him with wealth, possessions, fame, prestige, etc. He literally had it all together. But then he was struck by a cheap shot.

In a single day, he lost everything God had ever given him. His possessions, wealth, and even family except his wife. He didn’t do anything wrong. He was more godly than anyone else mentioned in the Bible. he offered sacrifices to God for himself and every member of his family DAILY just in case they MIGHT HAVE SINNED.

So what’s a cheap shot? A cheap shot is a blow that is against the rules. In boxing, it’s illegal to hit below the belt. It’s also illegal to hit after the bell has rung. When a boxer throws a hit below the belt, it’s not fair. We call that dirty fighting. We also call it a cheap shot. Cheap shots are intended to take you off guard and do a lot of damage.

The Devil likes to use cheap shots. We see it all throughout scripture. He uses trickery and unfair hits to knock the people of God. Adam and Eve were tricked – cheap shot. Job lost all he had – cheap shot. The Devil doesn’t play fair. He doesn’t play by the rules. He looks for a crack in our spiritual life, and then hones in with all of his might to take us down.

The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy.
John 10.10

He has no other reason to exist but to steal, kill, and destroy. That is his primary function. And he is good at it. He hits people with cheap shots all the time. Cheap shots come in all shapes and sizes. It can be a parent leaving home. It can be a relationship or friend that you thought was in this for life. It can even be the church and it’s leaders. They happen to everyone, no one is exempt.

So the issue isn’t IF we will get hit with a cheap shot, but rather what we do afterward. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond. The way that you respond greatly determines how you grow as a Christian, a leader, and a person. Life is not fair. It never will be. The sooner we can come to grips with that fact, the better we will be. Most people would quit, throw in the towel, and say, “I’m done!” But Job shows us how we SHOULD respond instead:

Job stood up and tore his clothes in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to WORSHIP…In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
Job 1.20, 22

Job saw things a little different than most. He understood something that we must understand if we are going to survive cheap shots. it’s kind of like Rocky Balboa. Rocky had an attitude of “Never say die!” He didn’t care if he won, he just stayed in the fight. No matter how hard he got beat, he just stayed in the fight. He got hit over and over and over again. He was beaten to a pulp. but he just kept coming. No matter how hard and how many times he got hit, he just kept coming.

That’s what Job did. He didn’t quit. When he was at his lowest, darkest place, he didn’t quit. Instead, he ran to God and just worshipped. His worship was just like Rocky. He kept coming. The Devil hit him, and he kept coming. He got hit again, but he kept coming. No matter how hard and fast the Devil hit Job, he kept coming.

Have you been hit with a cheap shot? Are you thinking of throwing in the towel because it’s too hard? If so, remember Job. When it was all said and done, God not only restored everything he lost, but actually doubled it! So hold on! Don’t give up! Stay in the fight!

- Pastor Tony