Making False Assumptions
When we try to help other people like Job's friends did, it is dangerous. We must be careful not to make assumptions about why God is doing something in their lives, because we can't put God in a box and understand all He does every time. Job's friends thought that God was punishing Job because of some sin or sins.(Job 5:17,18) They were making a false assumption. This caused them to get mad at Job for saying he was blameless before God, and it hurt Job that they would not listen and sympathize with him. We must learn a lesson from this, so we will not make this mistake.
When we try to help another person with a problem, we should make it clear that we cannot tell them God's will for their life or exactly what God is doing in their lives, unless God has shown them why they are having trouble. If God has not shown them yet, we should give them options. It is true that we should not despise the chastening of God, and that if He wounds us, He will bind us up. However, the problem may not be coming from God's chastening, as in Job's case. Therefore, we tell the other person that is one option to pray about. Then, we try to comfort them until the Lord shows them what is going on. We can't play God. That is always wrong. Remember, God shows His will to each of us as individual believers. He does not show someone else His will for my life,
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 9-12.
When we try to help another person with a problem, we should make it clear that we cannot tell them God's will for their life or exactly what God is doing in their lives, unless God has shown them why they are having trouble. If God has not shown them yet, we should give them options. It is true that we should not despise the chastening of God, and that if He wounds us, He will bind us up. However, the problem may not be coming from God's chastening, as in Job's case. Therefore, we tell the other person that is one option to pray about. Then, we try to comfort them until the Lord shows them what is going on. We can't play God. That is always wrong. Remember, God shows His will to each of us as individual believers. He does not show someone else His will for my life,
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 9-12.