Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Job’s Friends and Their Kin


I really am enjoying my facebook connection on the web. It connects me with so many people who have been part of our lives at one time or another. Spending time there is part of the reason I post here so infrequently. However, every now and then, I get stirred up and it is time to blog.

Another thing with facebook is keeping up with the struggles people are going through and supporting each other through prayer and encouragement. It can be a real blessing.

Then there are the people who take their cue from Job’s friends and consider it their duty to be the voice of God via the comment box. “You really should....”; “If you weren’t...” ; “The Bible says...”; and so on.

In the book of Job, the main character of the story is set upon by all kinds of hardship and heartache. Then his three friends arrive:

Job 2:11-13 (NIV)
11 When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

After a week, they couldn’t keep silent any longer. They had plenty of time to think up reasons that Job was in such trouble and they had many wise things to share with him. For the next several chapters they take turns spewing their wisdom all over a man who is already suffering from angst and self-doubt. Thank you so very much.
Recently, a friend of mine was sharing the loss of the 13 year old son of one of his friends. He started the thread out with, “Words fail to express”. Three comments later, one of Job’s friends found plenty of words that were inconsiderate and abrasive.

When friends are suffering, do they really need our advice or do they just need our presence? For the first week, Job’s friends got it right. They wept with him and shared in his hurt. Most of the time, it is enough. Often, it is just the right thing.

14 comments:

I do likewise, John 3:30 said...

Hello check this out; it appears Mecca is the woman that rides the beast as outlined in Revelation 17, check here at http://meccasevenmountains.blogspot.com

A said...

Your blog has been recommended to us as a interviewee's favorite blog!
We would like to do an interview with you about your blog for Blog
Interviewer. We'd
like to give you the opportunity to
give us some insight on the "person behind the blog."
It would just take a few minutes of your time. The interview form can
be submitted online here Submit your interview.
Best regards,
Mike Thomas

romantic said...

heloo everybody, i have read this blog today; I work at romantic sex shop and please take a tour

Anonymous said...

We accommodate all kinds of excessive property s that come in a disparity of styles,[url=http://www.discountpartydress.com]discount party dresses[/url]
[url=http://www.weddingideas4u.com]discount wedding dresses[/url]
[url=http://www.dresswomen.net]affordable wedding dresses[/url]
[url=http://www.dresswomen.net]prom dresses[/url]
[url=http://www.safeandsoon.com/]cheap wedding dresses[/url]
colors and sizes at wholesale price.All are second-rate with trendy styles associating apparels including artist wedding adorn, seaside association dresses, conjugal gowns, bridesmaids dresses, prom outfits, bourgeon skirt dresses & shelter dresses.Even we can accommodate the services of open area customization and free extra scope Blow the whistle on buy affordable astounding joining dresses in the present climate!make use of horn-mad shopping, dress to the letter destined for the tremendous nuptials with the facilitate of G-marry bridal.


http://www.dresswomen.net

Anonymous said...

We accommodate all kinds of high rank s that come in a difference of styles, colors and sizes at wholesale price.All [url=http://www.g-marrybridal.com/wedding-dresses/]wedding dresses[/url]
[url=http://www.g-marrybridal.com/mother-of-the-bride-dresses/]Mother of the Bride Dress[/url]
[url=http://www.g-marrybridal.com/cheap-prom-dresses/]prom dresses[/url]
are second-rate with trendy styles associating apparels including originator uniting dress, seaside coalescence dresses, bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses, prom outfits, flower young lady dresses & nurse dresses.Even we can stock the services of on the loose weight customization and manumitted coupled with gauge Snitch on affordable amazing compounding dresses at this very moment!enjoy searing shopping, put on one's sunday best clothes faultlessly exchange for the tremendous wedding ceremony with the facilitate of G-marry bridal.


http://www.g-marrybridal.com/

Anonymous said...

must look at this [URL=http://e--store.com/]coach bags outlet[/URL] with confident eroFztgV [URL=http://e--store.com/ ] http://e--store.com/ [/URL]

Anonymous said...

to buy [URL=http://e--store.com/]prada online outlet[/URL] and get big save fytASfkc [URL=http://e--store.com/ ] http://e--store.com/ [/URL]

Anonymous said...

It is a powerful book full of perspective, ideas and advice for how to ensure you get the compensation and recognition you deserve. ghd mk4 black And the beginning of a new career?. north face jackets on sale Once they arrived Zoe wanted to play immediately. uggs on sale And of you are a woman who understands fashion and style then it is largely your choice that speaks that speaks volumes of your personality. http://www.lateuggboots.com You can even buy formal men trousers separately, which is great if the old ones are too small (go easy on the donuts) but the jacket still fits.

Anonymous said...

top [url=http://www.001casino.com/]casino bonus[/url] coincide the latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com/]casino bonus[/url] free no deposit perk at the chief [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]casino bonus
[/url].

Anonymous said...

top [url=http://www.c-online-casino.co.uk/]c-online-casino.co.uk[/url] brake the latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com/]realcazinoz[/url] unshackled no store bonus at the leading [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]baywatchcasino.com
[/url].

Anonymous said...

[url=http://aluejxfttk.com]qEQhh[/url] , xoScvDIwmpwJwq , http://pyfnknfrtw.com

Anonymous said...

FouJkuXxmSfz [url=http://adidas51.webnode.jp/]nike エア[/url]TknOmrOimXtv [url=http://nikeonline.blog.fc2blog.net/]nike id[/url]AglGqvPlpMxw [url=http://nikeair350.blog.fc2.com/]シューズナイキ[/url]KweTnbNvsAjd [url=http://nikeshose.blog.fc2.com/]nike スニーカー[/urlXsdKwrOftNll [url=http://nikeonlie11.blog.fc2blog.net/]nike ランニング[/url]EjrXduSdiKdn [url=http://ナイキシューズ.seesaa.net/]ナイキ フリー[/url]SjmJmgJdkDrw [url=http://シューズナイキ.seesaa.net/]nike free[/url]LshFhmSflJgw [url=http://nikeair11.seesaa.net/]スニーカーナイキ[/url]NhaZsqEoqBfw [url=http://niker.seesaa.net/]nike[/url] JktIkyKchZfz [url=http://nikeshose11.blog.fc2.com/]free nike[/url]LasIccOndJpy

Anonymous said...

When you find yourself reading night time ointment critiques, you need to [url=http://lfcream.com]lifecell[/url] an unavoidable method. lifecell Look into our http://ywashst.com Cream Will Get Rid Of Lines and wrinkles And Earn The Skin Look Younger And Radiant

online dramas said...

so nice blogger