Empower with Hopefulness
Before you speak,
Let your words pass
Through three gates:
Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?
What we say to others can affect their whole life. We need to be careful when accusing someone of wrong doing because like throwing out pieces of paper, the pieces of what we say will spread in the wind and we will be unable to gather up the trash we threw out.
We are now reading in Job 4-5 and we know the story of Job’s life. That God is testing Job. He has been a teacher, strengthened many, and an encourager but now trouble has come to him.
The speech of Job’s friend Eliphaz has some good advice when he emphasizes getting help from God when faced with troubled times. Being considerate of others in their time of need is a virtuous deed. By pointing out the good they do and expressing the strengths you see in them, you empower them with needed hopefulness in troubled times.
Eliphaz has learned that God does the following:
- Performs wonders and miracles
- Provides rain
- Lifts up those who are down
- Thwarts the plans of evil
- Saves the needy
- Gives hope to the poor.
But Eliphaz doesn’t know the full story of Job like we do. Does the advice of Eliphaz assume that Job has done wrong and deserves to suffer? We all are born into a troubled world with much hardship and trouble so we can’t always assume that the person going through troubled time deserves it. We have to be careful in falsely accusing someone of doing something wrong.
This day with You Lord, we ask that you help in using words that build others up. Not to tear them down because only You know what they are going through. We pray today that our words add to their life, are true, are kind, and point the world back to You. Amen.
Mark Shields, Thanks for reading! This blog started from a small Bible Study group several years ago with just a few followers and now has grown beyond what I would have imagined. I’ve found it to be a great tool in my journey through the Bible and you, my readers are holding me accountable to daily Bible reading and study.
We live in a busy world with busy schedules and being able to share some thoughts about this journey with others across this world through the Internet is truly a blessing.
Mark’s Website: thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
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