Bible
Have you ever had someone who meant to encourage you; but
in reality, their words had the opposite effect? Well, Job’s three friends would certainly fit
into that category. We know that they
came to mourn with Job and to comfort him, but their efforts failed miserably.
See if
you think these words from Eliphaz are encouraging. Job 5:26a, “Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age.” Meaning: “Job, you are going to die, but you
have lived a good life.” How encouraging
is that?
And how
about the words of Bildad found in Job 8:4, “If
thy children have sinned against him (God), and he have cast them away for
their transgression…” Meaning, “Job,
have you considered that your children died because they were living in
sin?” Now, don’t you know those words
just brightened Job’s day?
Then
Zophar came and shared these words with Job, “If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness
dwell in thy tabernacles.” (Job 11:14) In essence he was saying: “Job, you are living
in sin.”
I guess
this is where the old saying, “With friends like these, who needs enemies?”
came from. People often do have the best
of intentions, but their words seem to discourage rather than encourage.
This
reminds me of the story of a visiting pastor who greeted people after the
Sunday morning service. The people
seemed very generous and appreciative of the sermon; but one lady abruptly
stated, “Too long!” as she filed past the pastor. She then circled back through the line and
shouted, “Too loud!” The two negative
comments unnerved the pastor a bit, but he tried to maintain his
composure. When she came through a third
time, her comments were no more flattering.
She declared, “And it was also boring!”
What to do:
✞ Make sure your brain is not in neutral when your mouth is in gear.
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