Job's Comforters +

Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.  Listen to his instructions, and store them in your heart.
Job 22:21-22 NLT

A Job's Comforter is defined as "a person who aggravates distress under the guise of giving comfort." Our text today is from the third and final speech of Eliphaz to Job. I'm relatively certain he was passionate and persuasive, given the circumstances. In fact, the man was outright eloquent in his delivery! However, his assessment of Job and the situation was decidedly limited, and although what he was saying was absolute Truth regarding repentance, he missed the mark in how it applied to Job. We've all had friends who meant well and yet misspoke. 

Oftentimes, we, being human, only know or are known in part. Paul tells us in 1st Corinthians 2:11, No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. Two verses later, Paul writes, When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. And therein lies the crux of the matter - human wisdom. 

The Word also tells us that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all Truth. Are we listening?

In Proverbs we learn that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Given these truths, whether we are the speaker or the recipient, we must be sure to follow the Lord's leading. We do NOT want to be a Job's Comforter.

Prayer:

Father,
          Give us Your wisdom. Guide us into all Truth. And let us be like Jesus and only impart to others what we hear You say. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen