Real Comforters

Scripture verses that caught my attention today: Job 16:1-2 Then Job answered:
2 “I have heard many such things;
miserable comforters are you all.

Observation: Job was not impressed with the way his “friends” were trying to “help.”

Application: Many of us want to be “fixers.” In other words, when we hear of a problem, we want to pretend that it’s really simple…that if the people involved would just do a few things all would be well—thank you very much! Ahh, but much of life does not work out that way. Many situations are far deeper than what can be seen at first glance.

There is a saying related to Africa the goes something like this… “after spending a week in Africa I thought I could write a book’s worth of suggestions for how they might live better. And after spending a few months in Africa I felt like I could maybe write a chapter of good advice for how they might live better. Now that I’ve been a missionary here for about a dozen years, I’m struggling to even come up with one paragraph of suggestions for how they might live better.”

Granted, with time and experience some of us might develop a skill for recognizing flaws in systems that can be overcome with some adjustments. But humanity is still a complicated lot. Our sinful nature makes us vulnerable to many an addiction (personal and communal) which then often serves as a cover for what really ails us. Many ‘fixers’ neglect to take this reality to heart and therefore never truly enter into another’s struggle for wholeness.

Job’s friends started out on a good note. They came to him in his distress and just sat with him for several days. But apparently they were judging in their hearts and, when they could keep silent no longer, they became what Job himself called “miserable comforters.”

Prayer: Lord, help us to be real comforters rather than miserable ones. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Job 16 and Acts 21-23)