What is the measure of a friend?

 Job 11:13-20

 

“If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him.  If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.  Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.  You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away. And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.  And you will feel secure because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security. You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor.  But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.”

 

What is the measure of a friend?  It is someone who knows your shortcomings and is honest with you and will be there for you in your time of sadness and sorrow and also is your biggest cheerleader.  These three so-called friends began doing it correctly, about 95% of being a friend is showing up, but these first two so-called friends moved to be Job’s accusers as if they were without sin and Job was a person who had welcomed injustice into his home.

 

This was solution Zophar, all Job needs to do is to confess his sins, one wonders if Zophar wants Job to confess to him and his buddies, or God?  Then clean up your act and you will be restored to your neighbors and God.  These first two friends have gone to a very dangerous place, in that they act as if they are speaking for God.  My council is to run from such people!

 

You may want to reread verses 15-19, be careful of a person who makes promises that only God can make.  What a contrast to the verses above, going from a repentant sinner to an unrepentant and wicked sinner.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice