RTW January 21

Handling Helpful Confrontations

“The same happens to all who forget God. The hopes of the godless evaporate.”
Job 8:13

 

 

My Takeaways

Something Old

In his own way Bildad was urging Job to reach out to God and repair what he believed was a relationship broken by sin. Could his words have been tempered with grace? Yes. Should he have been a little more compassionate? Absolutely. But he wasn’t…and sometimes we have to deal with the same type of “friendly fire.” So how do we process unfiltered, often unwanted graceless challenging wisdom?

When receiving “helpful” confrontations.

  • First, it’s important to examine the person’s motive by asking, “Does this person want to help, or harm me?” Understanding a person’s motive will go a long way in determining the validity of their words. Bildad obvious cared about Job or he wouldn’t have stood with him for a week without uttering a word.
  • Next, reflect on the words spoken and ask, “Is there any truth in what was said?” Even words that come across harsh should be evaluated. Our key verse begins with the phrase “Such is the destiny of all who forget God.” What is the destiny or the path of those who forget God? Like a papyrus reed perishes without water, and a flower cut before maturity fades away, those who forget God will also suffer the same withering. These facts are true.
  • The last step is two-fold and requires the corrective work of the Holy Spirit. “Lord, there is no veracity in the argument, please help me move on, and not hold grudge against her,” or “Lord, Your Spirit has confirmed the argument is valid, guide me to work through this truth in my life.” Even though it isn’t fun, honestly facing truth is healthy and develops our character to reflect Christ.

Something New

 

Something to Do

No one likes to hear a rebuke, especially from a friend. We have to wade through the words and pause to consider the possible value in the reproof rather than pitch the words aside. God will use the experience to strength our faith.  Sometimes we can find buried truth hidden in quick retorts if we are willing to pause.

 

 

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11 Comments

  1. I tend to want to compare myself with Job But the truth is I have been more like his friends in many of my relationships. I’ve become super aware over the past year of just how strongly opinionated I am and how much I try to force my thoughts and opinions on others as to how they should manage their lives. The one person I do this the most with pointed this out to me in a very healthy way and we are working through it together. But like you Wendy sometimes it’s so challenging to bite my tongue and not offer advice especially when it is clear that someone is on the wrong path.

    I love the contrast in the beginning and the end of today’s reading with respect to Hope. 8:13 says “the hopes of the godless evaporate“ and 11:18 says “having hope will give you courage“. Jesus is my living hope. He gives me courage to face every day. Every challenge.

  3. The verses that stood out to me today was Job 9:32-36 “God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial. If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. The mediator can make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in Terror of this punishment. Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.” Job is so right, he cannot do this in his own strength. Job needed someone to come between him and God. Unlike Job I have a mediator, that mediator is Jesus Christ. Jesus fits all the qualifications of what Job needed. I live on the other side of the cross something the Old Testament characters knew nothing about. Jesus is the one who comes between man. God and brings them together. Christ was fully divine and fully human. He is able to sympathize with and reconcile people to one another. If only Job knew what I know today. So many blessings happened at the cross. Christ mediated or made a way to God for me, despite my sin. What an awesome truth I have today. Like Job, on my own, I am unworthy to enter God’s presence; but with Jesus standing inbetween God and me, I am made right with God.
    Jesus said to them, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6).

    My something to do today is to praise God and thank Him for the cross. Thank Him for sending His son, who has made a way for me and anyone else who believes to be reconciled to our heavenly father.

  4. Job 9:33 “If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.” What a blessing that on this side of the cross, believers have that

    Something To Do: As Wendy suggested, listen more and talk less. Listen first to hear, not necessarily to respond right away or at all.

    1. I noted the same thing today! What a blessing to live on this side of the cross and have that Mediator in Jesus!

  5. I noticed some prophetic statements in Bildad”s response 8:7 “And though your started with little, you will end with much.” 8 :21 “He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. ”
    How blessed to know the end of the story, to have the compete and total Word of God. To view, as you ladies said from this side of the cross. All glory to God!

  6. Job’s friends remind me of “Christian’s” who are cherry pickers, better known as cafeteria bible thumpers. In my opinion, Job’s friends were self righteous blamers as the Apostle Paul speaks of in Romans. They were so full of themselves their affection was on their philosophy, their life script, their own wisdom and understanding justifying themselves!
    From his own pharisaical background Paul knew that self-righteous people tend to justify themselves by blaming others. Self-righteousness is a very difficult sin to get people to see and condemn in themselves. But it’s a serious, damnable sin because it keeps people from seeing their need for change. It believes the lie that we can be good enough in ourselves, not like those gross sinners, I’m a basically good person! God wouldn’t judge a good person like me, would He?” Or, would He?

    One of my favorite verses in Job is 38. Job and his “friends”, counsel with words without knowledge. Can you imagine standing before the Lord “I will question you, and you shall answer Me”. How different our approach would be before a most Holy God and His Word. In Psalms 138:2 He holds up His “Name” and His “Word” above “all” else!

    Job :38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

    2 “Who is this who darkens counsel
    By words without knowledge?
    3 Now prepare yourself like a man;
    I will question you, and you shall answer Me.

    4 “Where were you when I………..

  7. One thing that stood out to me today was when Job said, “If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment. Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.” (Job 9:33-35). This seemed to be some foreshadowing of Jesus. Job recognized how sinful man is and that we cannot overcome our sin and get right with God without a mediator. It made me so grateful for Jesus!

  8. In this section Job 10:1-22, Job has a very disgust for his life and wondered why God let him live. I remember when I was younger that I through those same words. Why did I feel this way? Why was I born? There are lots of people that feel the same way and when you read Job felt the same way. You don’t feel like the lone ranger. Job talked about this first in 3:3. It resonated with my spirit. I felt his anguish and pain. But we see that at the end of the book his outlook changed. As mine did too. I know this seems kinda deep but it shows that we have a sensitive heart from what we have read in these passages. Something to do. I need to be more of an encourager and up lifter to those around me!

  9. Today was huge for me. Just yesterday morning I had received a confrontational text from someone I’ve been meeting with for counsel and help with some situations in my life. Apparently I said something that annoyed her and wasn’t acting the way she expected me to and she really let me have it. Her text was harsh, mean and without compassion. She basically told me no hurt feelings but I need to decide what to do whether to keep meeting her or not. I was so upset I cried and this bothered me all day. My husband knows her had warned me before I began meeting with her that she was rough and was hard to deal with, but I didn’t see that. I just saw someone who was willing to help us in the mess that we are in.
    I didn’t get to the days lesson until last night and when I read the days reading and Wendy’s video, it was SO clear what I need to do! God spoke directly to the situation through the reading and Wendy’s video. I mean wow! I love God’s perfect timing in all things!!! He is working out All Things for our good! I don’t know the woman well enough for her to be so rude and to be so harsh. But God showed me that he can move mountains. Although human counsel is ok and good, I need to always come to Him first. By going to different people trying to get help with my problems or things in my life, (which I do constantly) I am showing my distrust in God to be the one to help me through things. It’s doubting that He can give me what I need. 12:13 But true wisdom and power are found in God. I don’t ever want to doubt or distrust God.

    I believe this person was our starting point for change. She showed me a lot of things we were doing wrong (this whole thing is in regards to our fininaces). I believe in Gods strength, He will teach me, tell me, instruct me and speak to me through His Holy Spirit. 12:7-8 He will give me strength to do what He has equipped me to do. Is it scary to try alone without someone holding my hand? Yes, but when that person holding my hand is a drill sargeant who makes me cry, I don’t believe that is healthy or what God wants for me either.

    Having hope will give me courage 11:18

    Thank you God, my Abba Father for always being there with the most perfect counsel. I’m sorry that I ever doubt you. Help me to trust in You alone.

    Songs for today

    Do it Again-Elevation Worship
    Living Hope-Phil Wickham
    Trust it All-North Point Inside Out
    You Alone-Seth Condrey

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