BEING JUDGEMENTAL. - Devotional

Here was Job seated in ashes, his body writhing in pain and his mind sorrowful. His three friends who came to sympathize with him, initially, sat with him in silence for days. They appeared as if they were processing all that had happened to Job. When Job eventually spoke, he regretted the day he was born and wished he had died instead.

His friends responses cut deeper than the pain Job suffered. They all doubted his integrity. They insisted that he must have done something wrong, he must have sinned and his children too had sinned, and that was why God punished them. This is Retribution Theology - “Stop and think! (Eliphaz said) Do the innocent die? When have the upright been destroyed?" (Job.4.7.NLT)
"Your children must have sinned against him, (Blidad said) so their punishment was well deserved." (Job.8.4.NLT)
“If only you would prepare your heart (Zophar urges) and lift up your hands to him in prayer! Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you." (Job.11.13-14.NLT)

This is the kind of judgement majority of us pass whenever anyone is afflicted. Instead of providing comfort, sound counselling and understanding or more importantly, keep quiet, we are quick to judge. In that moment, we are more innocent and righteous than the angels. We delight in people's downfall. We pretend to care but deep down some of us rejoice it's not their cup of tea.

Yet, in the very first verse of the Book of Job, God declared and certified Job as upright and blameless, but men thought they knew better.

There are different TYPES of SUFFERINGS. One is for punishment for sin and another is the testing of FAITH. HOW DO WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?
The former comes with or carries, 'I am guilty' label in your heart. David said; "I have sinned." (2 Sam. 12:13-14). Jonah realised his sin and confessed in the belly of the fish. The later however, is the trial of faith. It is not about sin but about a firm grip/anchor on our beliefs, trust, relationship, with God. Unmovable, UNWAVERING FAITH where God is all that counts.

You should not judge, otherwise, and like unto the friends of Job, God will find you guilty.

WORD: "......God said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. ..........My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” (Job.42.7-8.NIV)

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