Being a Good Friend

¹¹ When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. ¹² When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. ¹³ Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

Job 2:11-13

After Job was struck by calamity, his friends heard of the news and went to Job to comfort him and mourn with him. What I find interesting about this passage was, for seven days and seven nights they did not say a word to him, but rather they just sat on the ground with him. 

A great example of what it means to be a friend. Grieving with someone goes beyond Christian ideals, but can be applicable in a friendship that is secular in nature. Anyone can cry with a brother or sister, but what I find  that lacks in this verse is... why his friends didn't lift up a prayer for Job? They were all speechless, which is good in a way for grieving, but sometimes I feel the best remedy for a brother/sister in need is to pray for them. I wish his friends could have lifted up a prayer for him and encouraged Job to lean on God during these times of trouble. Later in his book they try to find out why his life was in shambles blaming it on an un-repented sin. God allows certain mishaps to happen to test and grow us in faith, but ultimately its up to me to decide what action to take. Whether its to be like Job and still praise him in my sorrows, or to cry and mourn with a brother/sister in comfort, everything should be petitioned to God.

Jesus forgive me for turning my back on people in need and only offer my hand when I feel its in my own benefit to help them. Help me to love unconditionally and go the extra mile like the Samaritan did for the man half dead. Help me to be more like you.

In Jesus Name
Amen