The Encourager
“Spider Web Religion by Mike Richardson”
Job 8:13-15 we read the words of Bildad. “So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish, Whose confidence shall be cut off, And whose trust is a spider’s web. He leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not endure.” Bildad made some mistakes when he addressed Job in regard to the reasons Job was suffering. He was wrong in assuming Job was being punished for sin and accusing Job of godless living. However, Bildad also spoke words of truth in his discourse on this occasion when he says the godless man is as frail and weak as a spider’s web. It is true that these words did not apply to Job, but it is tri that a godless man has no solid ground of confidence or hope on which to rely in time of need. And whatever may be the confidence or trust of the godless man it is easily and quickly cut off, broken, and torn asunder because it is as frail as a spider’s web. With the sweep of one calamity everything he trusts in is wiped out. He builds as it were a mansion without a foundation and it crumbles easily.
Notice several contrasts between a spider web and false, vain religion and false hope.
(i)Spider webs are quickly made. Watch a spider weave and spin her web. She works at a quick pace and is soon finished with her web. Likewise, false religion and false hope are quickly made. There is no root in God’s Word, but rather they spring up quickly. Look at how many religious groups have started in this city in recent years. Yet, a lot of what they teach is foreign to the Word of God. Many groups are based on “feelings” and “experiences”, but not truth of God’s revealed Word.
(ii)Spider webs are skillfully made. A spider designs and works by a plan to make her web. Notice how skillful a web is woven. The spider plans to entrap insects in its web so they find a place that they know a skillfully made web will do its job. The same is true of false religion and false hope, they are skillfully made. They are ingeniously woven to entrap man. Look at creeds and man-made worship, they are skillfully laid out. They are attractive, however they are frail! Anything that does not have God as a foundation is foolish (Read Matt. 7:24-28).
(iii)Spider webs are beautiful. Now spiders to most of us are no much to look at, (ask my wife her view of spiders) but the webs they weave are amazing to look at. The design of the webs are intricately woven and indeed are splendid creations. They are beautiful in the morning sun with glistens of dew dripping from their threads. However, this beauty is deceptive. The purpose is to trap unsuspecting insects into the gummy substance. Likewise, false religion and false hope can appear beautiful, but indeed its beauty is deceptive. Religious groups can have elaborate buildings, beautiful music, wonderful preaching, and motivating classes. However, if it is not done by the pattern of God it is a vain beauty. Many have been led astray by the beauty of man-made religion. There is nothing wrong with a nice building, beautiful singing, wonderful preaching, and motivating classes, IF the Biblical pattern is being followed, However, often man seeks to improve upon what God has stated in His word by adding what tickles his fancy and not what God has declared. I realize many who start these religious groups are sincere, but the real beauty of religion is when we follow the pattern of God to please Him. We need to ask ourselves here at this congregation are we motivated to worship in a way that glorifies God and is acceptable to God, or shall worship in a way we find beautiful even if we cannot find authority for it in Scripture.
(iv)Spider webs are spun from within. The spider carries the material to weave her web inside her. A number if
spinnerets make a gummy substance. The spider pulls at these and gets her ropes. Same is true from man-made religion. It comes from within man and not from God. The foundation is man’s wisdom. It’s self-made therefore it is excessively frail (Gal.1:11-12).
(v)Spider webs are excessively frail and easily destroyed. A spider web cannot hold much weight. They are delicate and cannot take much resistance. One mighty wind, one sweep of the broom and it’s gone. The spider web can be wiped away in an instant. Likewise, false religion and false hope are excessively frail. Isa.59:5-6 “They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave the spider’s web; He who eats of their eggs dies, And from that which is crushed a viper breaks out. Their webs will not become garments, Nor will they cover themselves with their works; Their works are works of iniquity, And the act of violence is in their hands.” Webs have limited service and are of no value because they are unsubstantial. False hopes and false religion are delicate and frail because they are held together by error. Such will be destroyed. Anything that is not built upon the foundation of God’s Word will ultimately be swept away. We are to build on the sure foundation of Christ that will never be destroyed.
