Today on one the Christian shows I keep up with, they are going through the book of Job. For those that are not familiar with the Bible, Job is the title of one of the books in the Bible.
They story of Job is basically Satan wanting to try Job because God is proud of him. It seems that God allows Satan to more or less, destroy everything that is dear to Job along with plaguing his health. During this time, many friends of Job voice their opinions of why this devastation has come into his life. These great friends do not pay attention to Job's suffering, they seem to try to defend God without really knowing why this has happened. Again, it is their opinions.
In times of need such as Job faced, a person usually does not need someone coming to push a doctrine on them or to ridicule or belittle them. What a person really needs at times such as these is someone who will be with and for them, cry with them, comfort them and, I believe, seek God with them for the answers. The friends could not understand the reason and tried to figure out in their own mind what the problem could be rather than going to God and getting the true answer.
To me, this story is extremely valid in today's world where we have so many denominations built on so many different doctrines and it seems a large part of these doctrines are nothing more than differing opinion on the interpretation of the Scripture. As with the problems of Job, we need to pull together and go straight to God and get the answers. God has given us Scripture to lead and guide us, but He did not give each denomination a different Bible, God has a specific message in the Word and it is up to us to make sure we have the "correct" interpretation of every passage. More on this in a later post!
At times it can be best to simply be with people in pain and share their sorrows with them rather than saying anything!
Oh yeah, the possible answer to the trials of Job. I do not claim this is an answer, but it is something we all need to think about when we read the book of Job.
"For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me." Job 3:25
Job would go out every day and make sacrifices to God and was an upright servant in about every way, but there is still something possibly revealed by this passage. Could it be that while he was worshiping God he had doubts in his heart instead of "faith"? He said "that which I was afraid of is come unto me". If he had full faith in God, why would he fear?
Food for thought!
I pray to God that I overcome my fears so that they never overcome me. I believe it is a matter of being close enough to God that nothing else really affects you. We all need more of God!