Somethings Wrong With You

We all need help.

This is not a surprise I hope.

Sometimes our motives don’t come through.

We all want to help, most of the time, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out well.

We must be careful when helping.

There is a book out called “When Helping Hurts” and though I have not read it I have had some discussions with others about the contents.

Job 4:17 NIV

‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker?

This is not bad advice and we must keep this in mind when we start.

Be careful about speaking “for God”.

Look with me at Job 4.12-15 and notice how Eliphaz is claiming a divine revelation. In matters which Scripture is not clear about, be very tentative.

Job 8:3–4 NIV

Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.

We do not fully understand justice.

Remember God is not just fully just he is fully wise, alongside his other characteristics.

Be specific when confronting.

Bildad and the other friends never specifically tell Job what was done, they conjecture.

The past is not always “right” or “wrong”.

Bildad invokes previous generations and how they understood or did things. This is helpful and necessary but not always instructive.

Sin is your issue.

Zophar comes to the scene and states this much.

Job 11:7–8 NIV

“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?

Let God give wisdom!

James states to ask for wisdom.

Be present when others are hurting.

Our presence may matter more than our words.

Speak truth and love.

Don’t forget the two.

Our hope is in Christ and His Wisdom.

This is our true state.