Tuesday: With Friends Like These . . .
All through the book of Job, the three (and then four) men who came to speak to Job did so with good motives. They had heard what had happened to him, and they came “to mourn with him and to comfort him” (Job 2:11).
Image © Review & Herald Publishing from GoodSalt.com
However, after Job first started speaking, bemoaning the tragedies that befell him, they apparently felt it was more important for them to put Job in his place and set his theology straight than it was to encourage and uplift the spirits of their suffering friend.
Time after time, they got it all wrong. But suppose they had got it all right? Suppose all these things came upon Job because he had deserved them? They might have been theologically correct, but so what? Did Job need correct theology? Or did he need something else entirely?
Read John 8:1–11. What did Jesus reveal here that these men were greatly lacking?
In this story, there is a major difference between the woman taken in adultery and her accusers on the one hand and Job and his accusers on the other. The woman was guilty. Though she might have been less guilty of sin than those accusing her, there was never a question of her guilt, whatever the mitigating circumstances. In contrast, Job was not guilty, at least in the sense of guilt that his accusers had claimed for him. But even if he had been guilty like this woman, what Job needed from these men was what this woman needed, and what all suffering people need: grace and forgiveness.
“In His act of pardoning this woman and encouraging her to live a better life, the character of Jesus shines forth in the beauty of perfect righteousness. While He does not palliate sin, nor lessen the sense of guilt, He seeks not to condemn, but to save. The world had for this erring woman only contempt and scorn; but Jesus speaks words of comfort and hope.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 462.
What the book of Job should teach us is that we need to give others what we would like were we in their shoes. There is surely a time and place for rebuke, for confrontation, but before we consider taking on that role, we need to remember humbly and meekly that we are sinners ourselves.
| How can we learn more compassion for those who are suffering, even suffering from their own wrong courses of action? |
(22)
Yes, Job was in need for something else than a theological fact .He carried that suffering in his mind, body, spirit and soul.Only deliverance a final word from the Alfa and omega is needed in his situations.The almighty God is a great listener and gives answers to all our questions Amen.
All though here, God was to let time pass before answering the desperate need. As he did with Jacob, as he will do with us, during the little time of Jacob's trouble.
We have not been called upon to explain pain and suffering but there is ample evidence that we are asked to help those who are suffering. In the judgement scenes in the parable of the sheep and the goats, nobody asks the question about who had the best or most appropriate explanation, but those who visited the sick and gave cups of cold water in Jesus name were commended.
Are we not given the work of showing cause and effect where sin is concerned? What do you do with Isa 58 when there is a clear need? Doesn't the word of God "reprove, correct and instruct in righteousness"? If there is no voice to warn of danger, what can be expected?
None of this encourages condemnation, but how can we fulfill Christ's commission of "teaching them to observe all things" without at times needing to point out the cause of people's suffering? Sure, we need to know they are willing to learn, and not just assume they will appreciate our pointing out the "facts!". There is always need of kindness, courtesy and sympathy in every opportunity to share truth. But at times, truth is calling sin by it's right name. If the Holy Spirit has full control, our words will be timely and effective in leading others to the Lamb of God, whatever the need.
We are to pardon and encourage better living. We are not to condemn but to save. How can we save if we don't give comfort and hope? Yes I know we can't save, however we are tools in the hands of God to reach those who might not be saved were it not for our, smile, kind words, sympathy, and understanding, without palliating sin, or lessening the sense of guilt.
I do believe that if we are just a nail on the wall to hang Christ picture on, we would be sharing our bread with the hungry, and clothing the naked. Our light would then break forth like the morning.
Happy Sabbath.
It is interesting that the work of Jesus and His apostles included reproving, correcting and instructing. Under the Spirit Paul urged pastor Titus to "rebuke [the erring] sharply that they may be sound in the faith", and to reject those who persisted in clinging to and promoting false teachings. This is not done in a harsh, condemning manner, but with "the spirit of meekness", and a genuine love for the soul deceived by sin. Many will inherit eternal life because someone had the courage and genuine concern to call sin by it's right name. But this is only effective if one is willing to lay down their life to save another. The balance in the Christian's life will meet every need properly, as Jesus met them.
On the other hand, many will be lost who were treated "nice" by false shepherds who love the ways of the world, being afraid to offend anyone.
What has been the example of God from the beginning when dealing with sinners? His dealings always fit the need in order to save.
It's ok to have friends as long as we remember that the best friend to have is Jesus. Job understood this and clung to his belief in this friend (Jesus). Friends will disappoint but Jesus will never let you down. It is important to focus on getting to know our friend Jesus through daily prayer and bible study.
Its important know how to approach and encourage those who have, like Job, inexplicable dark circumstances. I thank the Lord today for His example of how to treat each other as we struggle to overcome sin in our lives.
I've seen people rebuked, belittled and ostracized because of sins revealed publicly. I wonder how many would be encouraged like the woman caught in adultry, to turn from sin rather than to give up and separate themselves from us, if we responded in the Spirit that Christ did.
Good point Nanci, yet I am sure you have also seen those who are living in sin, desperate to still be accepted by the members of the church, trying to get others to excuse them in their open sin.
Yes Robert,
I've seen sins excused because of a person's status and other illegimate reasons. My comment was based on the examples of Job and the woman caught in adultery.
The point wasn't to make an exhaustive list of human circumstances where mercy is or isn"t appropriate. My comment was focused on the need for encouragement and compassion when appropriate.
As people we often lack compassion when not only would it be just but when desperately needed. Our excuse often is that the sin is legitimate. This is what I believe the lesson was pointing out in mentioning the examples of Job and the woman caught in adultery.
Without conviction there can be no true repentance. The woman was already convicted of sin but in Job's case he was not convicted of any sin; Therefore his friends felt the need to erge that conviction upon him. I agree that was wrong because he had not sinned and although we are commanded to warn the wicked of their sins we cannot by any means convict them of it, only the Holy Spirit can accomplish that work.
With friends like these.. it hurts me so to realize what kind of friend I have or what kind of friend I might be. When Job realized that, and said: “I could say the same things if you were in my place. I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you. But if it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away your grief.” Job 16:4-5 NLT
Look at these men who come with the woman caught in adultery before Christ to be juged, her friends!
Beloved, we need God's grace and forgiveness towards ourselves, but towards others, we claim "damnation, justice, judgement" what kind of friends are we! May God help us to read Our characters on the ground before picking up a first stone of judgement towards others.
IF Job had been guilty of anything, none of this would have happened to him. So rather than speculate on "what if", I would like to share some thoughts on the actual accounts as given in Scripture:
What Job's friends were lacking was Truth; in having any evidence of Job's guilt or a right understanding of God. The men in the story of John 8 had evidence, but a misapplication of the law, and their motive was not to condemn the women(whom they had set up), but to trap Jesus. Jesus did not bring condemnation against the woman(more on this below), but His lack of accusations did not clear her of her guilt. Only His forgiveness and death in her place could do that, WHEN/IF she confessed and repented. Repentance gives us access to the salvation offered in the Gospel(Mark 1:15).
Back to Jesus' lack of condemnation of the woman: He could not accuse her according to the law(which He gave to Moses for Israel to observe). Only the husband could bring her to judgment and only eye witnesses(at least two) could testify against her. Jesus was neither, and as a man had no authority to judge anyone(Luke 12:14) being of the tribe of Judah, and not a Levite.
also: Jesus did not come to the world to condemn, but to save, by becoming the Propitiation for all who will repent and believe the Gospel(John 3:16-18).
I love the point the sister White made which says; before she would speak or rebuke someone, she would pray till she was willing to give them her place in heaven.
Brother Fournier,
Please, can you provides us with the reference for this quotation: I love the point the sister White made which says; "before she would speak or rebuke someone, she would pray till she was willing to give them her place in heaven."
I believe there is a lesson for all of us to learn. We are very good at judging others while we do not have the full picture or issue at hand. As we saw the three friends of Job accused him repeatedly of sin and one of them a serious accusation that says "his children were killed because of sin."
The valuable lesson I have learned while studying Job experience is to keep my mouth shut and just tell him that I am here for you when you need me. I am praying for you, period. As we move to the first quarter study on the Holy Spirit. Let us continue to ask ourselves this question: What is the power of compassion in human relationships? Happy New Year 2017!!
How do we treat pple who r suffering from their own curses? This gives me the idea of pple living with diseases like AIDS, we ought to think they deserve to suffer of their evil...but have you ever thought of different ways of which pple gets infected? its just the grace of God that protects us. We need to remember humbly that we r all sinners too before rebuking others. May God help us to treat others in love and care as we wait for his second coming..b blessed.
I do believe that the Bible teaches us to treat them as we would one who is suffering from lung cancer who never smoked. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Luke 6:31. No I don't have lung cancer, but there are those who do that haven't even stepped into a room so heavy with tobacco smoke, that the room is blue, a rarity albeit. As I remember the Bible says, the sun shines on the righteous as well as the wicked. The rain falls on the righteous as well as the unrighteous
Matthew 5:43-46. Love your neighbor even if he does have AIDS.
Happy Sabbath and Happy New Year!
Let's complete the familiar expression partially used as the heading of the lesson for 12/27/16, "With friends like these...who needs enemies?!" This might have been an attempt at light-hearted satire but watchfulness is Jesus' counsel (Lk 21:34). I'm disturbed by how easily humans may sometimes be dangerously distracted by subtlety. The readers of Job are clearly told the narrative behind ALL the chaos in Job's painful experience (Job 1:9-11; 2:4-7). Jesus called satan, "the prince of this world" (Jn 14:30; 12:31) and students of Scripture cannot afford to misunderstand the seriousness of THAT truth, especially in the face of thousands of years of Earth's chaotic history since the fall of Adam. Eliphaz, Zophar and Bildad were no more Job's "enemies" than was his wife (Job 2:9). Even though he called them "miserable comforters" (Job 16:2-3), they certainly cared about him (Job 2:12-13).
Do we, however, understand that satan was employing their ignorance in the same manner he had the "fire of God", wind and boils (Job 1:16, 19; 2:7) for his own self-interest (Job 1:11; 2:5, 9)? We may need to ask ourselves whether the same narrative might be in use the next time we ignorantly or "accidentally" hurt someone we care for with correct words at the wrong time. But what about the "Sabeans" and "Chaldeans" in our lives (Job 1:15, 17)? Are they our "enemies"? Do we ever assume the role of "Sabean/Chaldean" in the lives of others (Eph 6:12; Rm 7:21, 23)?
Like Job, all who are in a relationship with God, are being called away from being "mere men" (1 Cor 3:3; Mt 5:47; Job 1:4-5) to a "richer" second experience that can only be achieved when overseen by God Himself (1 Pt 2:25; Mt 5:44-45; Job 42:7). I believe that the study of Job, correctly understood, is actually a great study to transition into this quarter's study on the ministry of the Holy Spirit.