In the past couple weeks I have been reading through the book of Job. I always dread when I get to that book. It’s very long and a bit depressing. But I prayed God would reveal what He wanted me to understand, since every word is included in the Bible for a reason. Well, He was faithful to answer, and I saw myself in both the roles of Job and his friends.
If you’re not familiar with this true story, here’s an overview. God allowed Satan to test Job, knowing that His godly servant would not disappoint. Job was a rich man who trusted God deeply but was stripped of everything in one fell swoop- his children, home, animals,… basically everything but his wife (who advised him to curse God and die). He then faced incredible illness that caused great physical discomfort while he was just beginning to grieve his great loss.
Now I know that most of us cannot relate to THAT type of loss, but have you ever felt so heavy and burdened that you had a hard time going forward? I have. I believe God allows us to feel this way for a period of time, for reasons only He fully understands, but that always seem to increase our faith if we let it.
Here’s the next part of the story: Job’s friends came, initially to mourn with and comfort him. They did pretty good the first seven days. “And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.” (Job 2:13)
Unfortunately, it seems their patience grew short, they were tired of seeing Job mope, and they began giving not-so-wise advice. They told him not to question God and that it was probably sin that caused his great suffering. They told him he better get himself right with God before further punishment ensued. I imagine they would’ve quoted scripture had the Bible already been written.
But here’s the great part- Job knew he was blameless before God. He spent his days trying to please the Father, and trusted that he served a just, loving God that gives grace to those whose hearts are pure. The friends didn’t know it, but they were being used by the enemy to further test and torment Job. They seemed to be super proud of all the “wise” words with which they were hammering Job.
This scares me a little. Do I offer careless advice to friends for the sake of having something to say? Do I offer my wisdom instead of asking the Holy Spirit to guide my words and heart? I can tell you there have been times I have thought my friend’s burden was due to something she had done or because she wasn’t allowing herself to “get over it.” But after reading this and thinking of times in my life when God seemed to allow a burden to press on me despite praying for relief, I realize that I am to bear the weight of that burden with them- even if it’s super inconvenient or a joy kill for me.
Let me tell you, I have people in my life that get this. People that love and comfort well for long seasons of struggle in my life, though it’s not fun for them. People willing to pray with me or for me the minute I tell them of an attack waged against me. I pray that I will return the favor for them each time they are facing difficulty. If you have friends like these, they are rare treasures from which to receive advice, comfort, and wisdom. Listen to them and allow them to love on you! Just be sure to return the favor, because these attacks are a guarantee for godly people.
So how does the story end? Well, God thundered His voice down in response to each of them. He showed His anger toward the friends, then instructed Job to offer sacrifices so that God may forgive them. Job was elevated and given even more than he had before. Isn’t it interesting that God immediately sought to forgive the friends…and through Job’s offerings for them? Job wasn’t allowed to turn his back on them, but was rather called to be the intercessor between them and God. What a picture! When I am wronged by my friends, I have no right to turn my back on them. Rather, I am to pray for them and love them like they’ve never hurt me, sharing their burdens in times of need.
I know what you’re thinking. Why did Job have friends in the first place if they tended to give him such heartache? I mean, after all, there had to have been issues before this moment, since they seem to have been quite prideful beings. Well, because we were designed for the messy work of friendship, created to need fellowship with others. Why does God continue to have a relationship with us? I honestly can’t answer this, but the fact is that He does. And He tells us that the second greatest commandment is to love others (and not just when they’re nice).
Father, thank You for my friends and the forgiveness they have shown me when I let them down. Help me to love others the way You do and to bear their burdens with great compassion. Give me Your words to speak over them when they are struggling. Help me to share my husband’s and my children’s burdens with deep empathy, knowing when to be quiet and listen. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
“Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” Proverbs 17:28
“In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.” Job 1:22