Wise Counsel Part 2
Job’s Friends
The ill-advised advice of Job’s three “friends” was poured out upon him like salt water on a man dying of thirst. Some friends!
Infatuated with their own opinions and misled by what they believed were “good intentions,” they took turns whipping poor Job with their misdiagnoses of his crisis. Job’s protests were just repelled as “denial,” and recycled into more fuel for their toxic zeal.
The problem with all of this is that they were dead wrong. We all see it because the background of Jobs dilemma was revealed in the introduction to the story. This experience is demonstrating for us, the typical responses of others when a person is going through hell.
“You must have done something wrong”
This mindless assumption of Jobs “friends” is what tempts the thinking of every human being when conflict or tragedy occurs in someone’s life. Ironically, such hurtful opinions then get delivered in the name of good intentions.
My good friend Bern, and his wife, tragically lost a baby due to complications in childbirth. The elders of their church felt it was strategic to visit them upon this devastating occasion while she was still recovering in her hospital bed. Their mission was not just to comfort however. They used the vulnerability of the moment to point out that Bern’s recent conflict with them, was the reason why God took their baby. They said they were doing this, in love.
These default responses to human suffering breed in ignorance. God, Satan, Man and natural phenomenon comprise the mix of possible explanations for all things. The only way to know which factor or factors are involved in any situation is if God Himself tells you. Not every hurricane and plague is a divine judgement. Some plagues are from poor sanitation. Unless God tells you which, it’s best to shut up.
Good intentions can bring good as well as harm. Those who aren’t aware of this, are dangerous.
Making it worse, isn’t wisdom
The Bible says “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be appealed to, full of mercy and good fruits…” In other words, you know wise counsel, by what it produces. The counsel of “Jobs friends” always make things worse, not better.
Where does it come from?
Wise counsel comes from God, as demonstrated in the final chapters of Job when God Himself finally speaks and scolds the “friends” for substituting their own opinions for His word.
Wise counsel is not a matter of opinion, good intentions or even sincere feelings. When it comes to a real life crisis, opinions are about as helpful as used tissue paper.
Sometimes, just being there for someone says a lot, and says all that needs to be said.
Continued in Wise Counsel Part 3, The Formula for Joy
https://hedoesallthings.com/truth-be-told/wise-counsel-part-3