I am always fascinated by the Olympic Games. This past summer, we watched as individuals and teams competed with others from around the world to win gold medals and be seen as the very best. Some athletes train all of their lives enduring intense workouts, strict diets and disciplined schedules for just a few seconds of competition. Then, only one person or team is awarded the gold. Does this mean the other athletes didn’t train hard? Did they not have a great desire to win? I doubt that is ever the case. Sometimes we put forth a massive amount of effort and end up with results that differ from our expectations. Now imagine if every time a gold medal was awarded the crowds began to taunt the other athletes and inform them of their “obvious” lack of preparation or effort towards their event. This is the story of Job’s “friend,” Zophar.
For Zophar, the cause of Job’s problems was obvious. Job must have failed to live up to the standards expected of someone who claims to worship the living God. He must not have tried hard enough. How in the world is Zophar able to know all of this accurately? The short answer is he is not. So instead of being a comfort and support to Job during his suffering Zophar only made it worse. He sat on the sidelines and told him all the ways he must have failed God.
This is exactly the position I catch myself in from time to time. I know why that person is homeless. They must have made some bad decisions. I know why this person is sick. They failed to make healthy choices. I know exactly why that marriage failed. They must not have really loved each other.
In order to be a friend, we should spend less time making these types of judgments on others and more time sitting with them in their pain. We need to provide safe space for people in pain and less time making it worse.
Lord, use me as an instrument of healing and peace today. Amen.
Rev. Christopher Hall, Jacksonville, Fla.
Extended Scripture: Job 11–14 (NASB)
