Don’t Make the Mistake of Job’s Friends
Job 42:7-8 (GNB)
After the LORD had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz, "I am angry with you and your two friends, because you did not speak the truth about me, the way my servant Job did. Now take seven bulls and seven rams to Job and offer them as a sacrifice for yourselves. Job will pray for you, and I will answer his prayer and not disgrace you the way you deserve. You did not speak the truth about me as he did.
 Other than Elihu, Job’s three other friends blamed God for what he was going through, even insinuating that he was suffering because of his sin even though that was not the case at all, Job 1:7-12. In fact, God referred to Job as a just and upright man. His affliction was from the devil and was a test of his faith. In Job 11:5-6 (GNB), Zophar said, “How I wish God would answer you! He would tell you there are many sides to wisdom; there are things too deep for human knowledge. God is punishing you less than you deserve. In Job 4:7 & 17-18 (GNB) Elphaz said “think back now. Name a single case where someone righteous met with disaster. *"Can anyone be righteous in the sight of God or be pure before his Creator? God does not trust his heavenly servants; he finds fault even with his angels. In Job 8:4-6 (GNB), Bildad added, “your children must have sinned against God, and so he punished them as they deserved.”
The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but God sent Jesus to come and give us abundant life, John 10:10. God sent Jesus, not to condemn the world, but to save it, John 3:17. We must understand and reflect God’s true love nature. We are ministers of reconciliation, not ministers of condemnation. Let’s bear each other’s burdens (Gal.6:2) and not add to them by criticizing and condemning each other. Like Jesus did in John 9:1-5, instead of suspecting and wondering if it is a person’s sin that is responsible for their condition, express God’s love, light and glory to them.
PRAYER FOCUS: Pray for all believers going through a difficult time and ask God for His strength, intervention and restoration in their lives.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment