Job and David are prominent Old Testament figures who share multiple things in common. You may also share some things in common with them. Perhaps you have a lot of kids, or you have a lot of money, or maybe you are a fan of poetry and songs. A better question is, what should we have in common with these two men? These men, while imperfect, were both highly esteemed by God. While reading the book of Job, I noticed these men share a phrase that captures three crucial qualities we can and ought to strive to share with them: “What is man?”

1) Faithfulness Through Trials

Both Job and David faced what many would describe as harsh circumstances. Job's whole story is about his unparalleled test of faith. Yet, both of these men were faithful to God through their trials. Having lost everything, finding themselves near death, and facing friendships determined to challenge their innocence, they endured and stayed the course. You may not face extreme difficulties like these men, but you also don't want to if you haven't proved yourself faithful in the smaller trials. God is faithful not to give more than people can bear. Yet, we are all promised trials. Jesus said we will have suffering in this world. The question is, how well do we respond to those trials? It is doubtful that David and Job started facing challenges at such large scales. We see David mention how fights with bears and lions prepared Him for battle with Goliath. If, in our trials, we know how to turn to God and continue in that practice, we, like Job and David, can be faithful through our trials.

2) Men of Prayer, Worship, and Praise

A key reason why these men knew how to turn to God and have a proper perspective through trials is because Job and David's stories are infused with prayers to God, worship of God, and Praise for God. These men were known to worship, and the words we have from them regularly speak of how Great God is. Do you regularly make a practice of prayer, worship, and praise? As these men have shown, no church building, worship team, or choir is necessary. Following their example, we ought to praise and worship God with all we have, whether that is much or little. We should also talk with God regularly. There is little indication we should spend time in prayer any less than daily.

3) Humility

And now we come to it. The critical phrase both these men express is "What is man?" In Job 7 and Psalm 8, this phrase expresses humility and awe toward God and His relationship with mankind. From this place of humility, we find the heart of prayer, worship, and praise. We are empowered to stay faithful in trials by humbly looking to Him in prayer, praise, and worship. As we see throughout scripture, God exalts and lifts the humble. These men were faithful, and their words of prayers and songs to God are still in writing for us today because they walked in humility before God. Humility is key. Humility is also something we can practice and develop. It is indispensable when it comes to growing as a disciple and strengthening unity in the church. With such humility, we can join together in prayer, worship, and praise of our King and support one another through the trials sure to come our way.