PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Job 11-12
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune.” (Job 12:5)
Zophar put Job in his place; he suffered because he sinned… period.
Sad to say, I was once like Zophar, a voice of heartless ‘truth’.
But as Job states, I was “at ease”, preaching from my ivory tower.
Too many of us show contempt for others with our religious views.
“To God belong understanding” (v.13), not to us and our doctrines.
Thankfully, the Lord has toppled much of my religious smugness (not all).
I am much more aware that what I say is often ‘easy for me to say’.
Gone are the days for me when everything was simply black and white.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in absolute truth.
I just know that none of us knows this truth absolutely.
He has taught me to struggle, listen and learn with those who struggle.
He has shown me that they have insight and wisdom as well.
Together as friends we struggle and learn about God’s truth.
And thankfully, he struggles with us, and walks with us to the other side!
PRAYER
Lord, forgive me for pontificating about peoples’ struggles. Expose my remaining religious smugness, and help me to be the friend You are to me!
“Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.” Am I ‘cool’ to those who have misfortune – for others who are caught in the grip of addiction or other vices? That person on the street corner begging – go get a job! Easy to say. Easy to say – you got to stop the meth! But it is not easy – it has a tenacious grip. They need someone not to judge and tell them but someone to walk with them – to help them take the ‘baby steps’ in a struggle to find the way out of their predicament. Forgive me Lord for being uncaring and judgmental – saying they got what they ‘deserve?’ Really – do they deserve it?!- rather they got enticed and tempted and were drawn into a trap that has now caught them. How can we help? Lord show me.
How do I see God in all things? When bad things happen to good people how do I see that? Not the way Zophar sees. I need to see God in all thins and His power and acts of faithfulness to His people. Seek His truth at all times. See how He still is in control. And when we/I struggle I need to take it all to the Lord in prayer.
1
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
2
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.