Job 4:1–2: “Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: ‘If one attempts a word with you [Job], will you become weary? / But who can withhold himself from speaking?'”

November 29th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Job was a godly man who was suffering. He had lost everything and was struggling with a terrible disease. He sat down in a pile of ashes and stayed there. In the last chapter, his 3 friends sat with him and just listened to him complain. Now we come to the first of the replies of the 3 “friends,” who all came with the same solution to his problems: “Follow your own advice.”

Eliphaz started off with a polite opening but soon came on strong, hitting Job with both barrels. He told Job that God was righteous and he was not, which of course is true. He was offering advice that was accurate but not helpful to Job. How we believers need to be careful about giving great biblical truths as advice, which doesn’t really help the hearer’s current situation. It seems Eliphaz couldn’t resist the temptation to raise himself up by proving that Job was more talk than substance. When we comfort others who are struggling spiritually, emotionally, or physically, we need to be careful we aren’t tempted by pride. None of us is free from sin and wrongdoing in our lives. The only person who has the right to condemn us is God. But does God condemn us? No. Job’s devastation was not a result of his sins.

Compassion means to feel what others are feeling and go and do something about it. An elementary schoolgirl’s best friend died in a car accident. A week later she visited her deceased friend’s parents. When she got home, her dad asked, “Why did you go over so soon after Shirley’s death?” “To comfort Shirley’s mother,” said the child. “What did you do to comfort her?” asked her dad. “I climbed into her lap and cried with her,” the little girl replied.

“LORD, we desire not to condemn but to comfort others this day, in Jesus’ name.”