Judge or Teach

Read Job 11-14
 
Job 11:6 (Zophar said,) “If only he would tell you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom is not a simple matter. Listen! God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!”
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Job 12:1-2 Then Job spoke again: 2 “You people really know everything, don’t you? And when you die, wisdom will die with you!”
 
THE world accuses Christians of being judgmental. One who sins does not like to be told, “You are wrong. You have broken God’s law. You must ask God’s forgiveness to be saved.”
   But isn’t that what we are told to say? Even as people love John 3:16a “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son.” there is often little mention of its command: John 3:16b so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
   Isn’t it God’s command to tell the good news, that includes telling of sin? John 3:18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son.
   Why is that truth seldom told? How will people know they are living under sin if no one tells them? We are often left with a dilemma, “Should we tell people of their sins, or should we remain quiet?”
   Perhaps Zophar’s rebuke of Job here can teach us what to speak and not speak into people’s hearts. Zophar seems to be a good man who believes in God. Yet, he is judgmental to assume Job is guilty: “God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!”  He was Job’s friend trying to help Job confess and be free of sin. This was a good thing – if Zophar’s assumption were correct.
   You know Job’s suffering is a test, not a punishment. In his desire to be helpful, Zophar unknowingly weakened his relationship with Job. Job does not accept Zophar’s words because Job knows there is another reason for his afflictions.
   What then should Zophar have said? Perhaps his language could have been something like this: “Job, I’m very sorry for your trouble. I don’t know why this is happening to you. I believe God is in control of all things Sometimes – even often – he brings hard things into our lives, so we can more fully understand who he is. Sometimes the hard things occur because we have made some mistakes. I know I have broken God’s commands often. I’ve learned to change some things in my life to correct some of these problems. Reading the Bible and learning of God’s love for me has really helped me to have a more contented life. If you’d like, I can help you learn of God’s love and mercy, too.”
   We are commanded to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. As we confront the sin issues around us, let’s first look to our own heart to discern where we need to be forgiven. Then be humble to love and help others come to know God. God doesn’t need another judge; your task is to be his messenger of truth.