Introductory Thoughts
Few men, if any, have been afflicted like Job. His troubles involved the catastrophic loss of family members as well as physical ailments beyond most people's ability to endure. During the depths of these difficult trials, Job's three “friends” visited him. They showed up to comfort him but instead turned out to be additional sources of grief. Each word spoken by his friends seemed to compound his already miserable condition and circumstances. Job did not consider this to be the work of a friend and told them that, “To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend.” Later in the same chapter, Job said that his friends dug a pit for him (Job 6:27). Job’s friends should have shown him pity during his troublesome times instead of scorning (Job 16:20) and abhorring him (Job 19:19). True friends know how to comfort and console their friends as they experience trouble and pain in life. They certainly do not unrighteously judge and condemn.
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): This Sunday, look around your Sunday School class. Who is missing? Were they sick? Did their family have car trouble, etc? Will you let them know you missed them and are praying that they can make it the next Sunday?
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(For everyone): Do your friends ever suffer through tough times? What do you do when they go through such times? Do you show them any sympathy or do you rebuke them without even knowing why such things are taking place?
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As Christian friends, there are times when a rebuke is necessary. Yet, there are other times when our friends need an understanding ear and shoulder. Are you balanced in this area?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask God to help you find a godly balance with your friends.
- Ask the Lord to help you learn how to be both comforting and supportive of your friends.
Song
IS THY CRUSE OF COMFORT WASTING?
