Vital Signs: Saturday, August 24, 2024

The False Assumptions of Jobs Friends

“Then Job spoke again: Yet my friends laugh at me, for I call on God and expect an answer. I am a just and blameless man, yet they laugh at me.” - ‭‭Job‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬, ‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We all know that wise, godly friends are invaluable. They can accurately assess what is needed to face a challenge. Foolish friends who make false assumptions, assuming our trouble is due to sin, can lead us down a path of unwarranted guilt, shame, and remorse. Jobs friends assumed that he and his children had committed so much sin that God was taking them out. They also assumed that God was punishing Job for their sins. Actually, Job was not experiencing punishment due to his sin. Everything that happened to him happened so that God could prove to Satan the persevering and rich faith of Job.

The practical application for us today is:

Never assume that troubled days equal a result of sin. We live in a world where bad things happen to good people. But even in these times, God often allows things in order to bring Himself glory. Also, may we choose our friends wisely!

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