Monday 23 Dec 2019

December 23: Job 13:1-5

Key Verse: Job 13:5
If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.

Devotion:
Have you ever got to the point where you just want the people around you to stop speaking? Maybe they were annoying you with their constant jabbering, or maybe they were talking so much junk they were confusing you... Whatever the case, there are times when you just want to stop the others from speaking to get some peace inside your head.

Job had a few people around trying to give him advice about what they thought he had done wrong to have all the problems which had happened to him. Just like Job, we have probably had people gather around us to tell us of the things they think we have done wrong to get into trouble. The problem is, they cannot know exactly what we have done and they certainly are not mind readers – so how can they be blaming us for things?

We often jump in and help out with the blaming when things go wrong for those around us, but we certainly do not like it when people gather around us and dish out the dirt; at least that is how we see it! But when we are helping others, we think of it as help and not as gossip. We, each one of us, must be careful with what we do and say about those around us because they may not agree with what we say. Whilst there is nothing wrong with telling the truth, surmising about what is the truth can only get us into trouble!

We could all look at a few high-profile people to see just how badly things can go wrong. Take a few politicians who have thought they are doing the right things and have brought down countries. Take a few scientists who think they do the right thing and make horrible and fatal mistakes... Whilst some of those are going to be genuine mistakes, there will be those times when they have done what they thought was right! We need to do what we know is right, not what we think could be right – God's Word gives us those instructions!

Points to Ponder:
Do you get angry with people who boss you around?

How often do you think you know better than God (be honest)?