Miserable Friends
I feel for Job who, when he needed comfort and compassion, got what was anything but. He rebukes his friends and goes on to express his utter feeling of abandonment and helplessness.
Are you a thoughtful and comforting friend?
As Christians we need to remember that being obedient to God and standing for the truth does not necessitate a rude, ugly, or insensitive spirit. In fact, we are to always respond with love and kindness. One can certainly rebuke another in love, discipline with compassion, and counsel with sensitivity. Peter said that as Christians we should have “compassion for one another; love as brothers,” and “be tenderhearted, be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8).
Not every “friend” will be the kind of friend we need, but the Lord will! And as we will see, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11). Be a true friend to someone today, and be faithful!