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Our friends play significant roles in our lives. Friends can either
build or destroy. When we surround ourselves with the right friends we
tap a lot from them. The same goes for bad friends. There is a popular
adage which goes like this "show me your friend and I will show you your
character".
Let us consider the three friends of Job.
Job 2:11-13
Now when Job's three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place- Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.
And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head towards heaven.
So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was great.
If you read the whole book of Job you will know what transpired between Job and his three friends.
Characteristics of the three friends of Job.
- Initially they seem to show concern when trouble arises. They will travel a great distance to come and mourn with you. They seem to share in your sorrow for a short time but when your condition doesn't improve they show what is on the inside.
- They may be sympathetic or may be driven by pity but they are not empathetic. They know you are in distress but they can't come to terms that they could be in your situation.
They are quick to speak but slow to hear. They find it difficult to listen to your plight. They speak what seems good to them.
- They are presumptuous. They speak of what they don't understand. They will blame you for your misery and may go to the extent of making you doubt your faith.
- They end up making you feel more miserable instead of providing solutions to your problems.
- Finally they will speak against God about your situation. They will question God's righteousness and speak of things they do not know.
Are you an epitome of the three friends of Job or do you have friends like that? Such friends can't travel the distance when the going gets tough. They help for a season but come out worse after some time. Judge for yourself.
Let us consider the three friends of Job.
Job 2:11-13
Now when Job's three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place- Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.
And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head towards heaven.
So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was great.
If you read the whole book of Job you will know what transpired between Job and his three friends.
Characteristics of the three friends of Job.
- Initially they seem to show concern when trouble arises. They will travel a great distance to come and mourn with you. They seem to share in your sorrow for a short time but when your condition doesn't improve they show what is on the inside.
- They may be sympathetic or may be driven by pity but they are not empathetic. They know you are in distress but they can't come to terms that they could be in your situation.
They are quick to speak but slow to hear. They find it difficult to listen to your plight. They speak what seems good to them.
- They are presumptuous. They speak of what they don't understand. They will blame you for your misery and may go to the extent of making you doubt your faith.
- They end up making you feel more miserable instead of providing solutions to your problems.
- Finally they will speak against God about your situation. They will question God's righteousness and speak of things they do not know.
Are you an epitome of the three friends of Job or do you have friends like that? Such friends can't travel the distance when the going gets tough. They help for a season but come out worse after some time. Judge for yourself.
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