January 28
JOB 32:1-34:37
After Job has been hounded by three friends for an unknown amount of time, a fourth individual steps up to the plate to confront him. Elihu says he waited to speak because he was younger than the other men. It was some degree of humility that caused him to listen rather than speak, yet he eventually does speak. Once he begins to speak, he comes to a similar conclusion as the other friends. He believes he knows exactly what is happening behind the scenes of Job's life and what God is doing. As with the other three friends, his conclusions are completely wrong. He started with humility and ended with ignorance. Before we look down on Elihu too much, our hearts are often similar. Quickly, humility is extinguished by pride and we begin to look down on others. We can think we have a monopoly on the truth and that everyone else is wrong. We need to be comfortable with not knowing everything and trust God in these areas. Even when it is something to which the Bible speaks directly, we need to exhibit one of the values of our church which is 'Truth with Gentleness.' We need to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and comfortable with the ambiguity of life.
Father God, you are God and I am not. Help me to walk in humility knowing that I am a mortal, sinful, errant person. Help me to respond to others with humility and always speak in love. Amen.
Question: What areas of life do you find yourselves interacting with others in pride rather than humility?
After Job has been hounded by three friends for an unknown amount of time, a fourth individual steps up to the plate to confront him. Elihu says he waited to speak because he was younger than the other men. It was some degree of humility that caused him to listen rather than speak, yet he eventually does speak. Once he begins to speak, he comes to a similar conclusion as the other friends. He believes he knows exactly what is happening behind the scenes of Job's life and what God is doing. As with the other three friends, his conclusions are completely wrong. He started with humility and ended with ignorance. Before we look down on Elihu too much, our hearts are often similar. Quickly, humility is extinguished by pride and we begin to look down on others. We can think we have a monopoly on the truth and that everyone else is wrong. We need to be comfortable with not knowing everything and trust God in these areas. Even when it is something to which the Bible speaks directly, we need to exhibit one of the values of our church which is 'Truth with Gentleness.' We need to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and comfortable with the ambiguity of life.
Father God, you are God and I am not. Help me to walk in humility knowing that I am a mortal, sinful, errant person. Help me to respond to others with humility and always speak in love. Amen.
Question: What areas of life do you find yourselves interacting with others in pride rather than humility?
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