…that you turn against God and say all these evil things?
(Job 15:13 – NLT)
In declaring that Job had turned against God, Eliphaz was acting self-righteous. If you had gone through what Job had, the last thing you would want to hear, and would need to hear was some “sanctified” person spouting off platitudes to you. We may not understand exactly what a person is going through, and we may bring false accusation against them as Eliphaz did to Job. His words were good, but his application was wrong. Just because we know a person has sinned doesn’t mean we know the remedy, save going to God in repentance.
Perhaps Job would not have continued to complain as much had it not been for his “friends” deriding him continually. When someone is a Christian, they are close to God already, and it can be counterproductive when they are down and out to keep reminding them of their duty. When we are riding high we need to be careful about how impatient we become to those who are having a tough time; we must walk a mile in their shoes, as it were. They are human and so are we, and just because we know the divine perspective it doesn’t mean that we have the wisdom and the prudence to deliver it properly. Remember, A word FITLY SPOKEN is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Proverbs 25:11).
This is a vital lesson for today. When someone is hurting, especially a Christian, we should not always rush forth to declare what the Bible says about complaining, using the Word as a club instead of as a consolation leading to a cure. Yes it is wrong to accuse God, and no, we dare not refuse the counsel of God in dealing with others, but prudence must be used. We must first be concerned with comforting rather than confronting, we must reach people not repel them, in order to turn them toward God, and together work to bring healing.
Consider also the fact that ministry is more than words. James 2:15-16 put the matter of empty words into perspective – If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Is our goal ministry, or malice? Think about it.
Voice of Vision
3 comments:
Word...
Thanks for the email JD - I didn't get around to reading it until just recently. I dearly appreciate your prayers, and the light you have shared.
Dan
We must first be concerned with comforting rather than confronting, we must reach people not repel them, in order to turn them toward God, and together work to bring healing.
Reminds me of "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15 ESV) Thanks for a good reminder.
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