Speak Comfort Not Condemnation
Job's friends did exactly the opposite of what they should have done when they came to see him after his great loss. They saw his pain and felt his grief, but they did not offer comfort, only condemnation. Job corrected them by telling them what he would have done for them. (Job 16:4,5) We need to make sure we do what Job says here, instead of falling into the failure of his friends.
I believe Job's friends meant well when they came to comfort him. However, they missed their chance, because they started focusing on "why" all of the bad things had happened to him. When we focus on why, we tend to assume that the cause is some sin. That is not always true, and it is not for us to reveal the reason for the pain. That is God's place. We must refrain from condemnation, because we do not know why. That frees us to move to comfort the person with no other purpose in mind. That is just what Job told them he would do for them.
In fact, Job said that he would strengthen them with his words. He would share comforting truth and compassion to bring courage and grace for facing the time of trial. He would do whatever he could to ease the grief, instead of making it worse by calling them a sinful person. If we ask the Spirit, He will always give us words to say to comfort those we know who are afflicted. That is our place, and it is a joy to be able to do that.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 19-21.
I believe Job's friends meant well when they came to comfort him. However, they missed their chance, because they started focusing on "why" all of the bad things had happened to him. When we focus on why, we tend to assume that the cause is some sin. That is not always true, and it is not for us to reveal the reason for the pain. That is God's place. We must refrain from condemnation, because we do not know why. That frees us to move to comfort the person with no other purpose in mind. That is just what Job told them he would do for them.
In fact, Job said that he would strengthen them with his words. He would share comforting truth and compassion to bring courage and grace for facing the time of trial. He would do whatever he could to ease the grief, instead of making it worse by calling them a sinful person. If we ask the Spirit, He will always give us words to say to comfort those we know who are afflicted. That is our place, and it is a joy to be able to do that.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 19-21.