SCRIPTURE: Job 26
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the weak! How you have enlightened my stupidity! What wise advice you have offered! Where have you gotten all these wise sayings? Whose spirit speaks through you? [Job 26:2-4]
Have you ever been struggling with something, and had “religious” people make things worse by their “wise counsel”?
It is true that christians have been used by God to comfort and support those going through tough times; but sadly it is also true that many christians have not comforted or supported others, but actually made things worse.
Job’s lament in this passage is that his so-called friends have not encouraged him but accused him.
And we know who the accuser is… whose spirit speaks through you?
Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” [John 8:10-11]
What, Jesus does not accuse this woman guilty of adultery?
No, because Jesus is not the voice of the accuser, that spirit does not speak through Him.
Jesus is the voice of the Father, and He communicates this message from God: “Neither do I condemn you!”
This does not mean that sin is not a serious concern; Jesus still urges the woman in love to “go and sin no more!”
But the starting point in God’s relationship with us is not condemnation but compassion.
As we have talked about being gracious, and spending time with people that need grace, have you noticed how awkward it is to talk about their behaviour?
I do not want to sound like an accuser, but neither do I want to ignore the “elephant in the room” (i.e. the obvious issue that is a concern yet no one wants to talk about).
How do we help people, how do we get to the place where we can say in love, “go and sin no more”?
The only way to get there is to first of all spend the time loving them first.
We usually move to quickly to the “go and sin no more” part, and do not spend enough time communicating “neither do I condemn you”.
Before we challenge others about their sins, we also need to face our own sins, and make it clear that we are equal with them in our need for mercy and help.
We also need to take the time to hear and appreciate their story; there is usually more going on than our initial impression.
We also need to be careful in what we are calling sin; in Job’s case they were convinced that they understood, that they had Job’s situation all figured out – but they were wrong.
As we relate to others, and think about their lives, and share our opinions about their behaviours, let us be very careful to remain humble, honest, compassionate.
Be aware that if we do not, then the wrong spirit might speak through us, the voice of the accuser!
PRAYER:
Lord, as I relate to people that live very different lives from me, help me not to be quick to judge, quick to criticize, or quick to express my opinions. Rather, may I be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry [James 1:19].