Job 15:1-18:21

Again Eliphaz hopes to speak words of comfort to Job.  Eliphaz says, “You are supposed to be a wise man, but you give us all this foolish talk.  You are nothing but a windbag.”  To which Job responds, you have already said that, “what miserable comforters you are.”  Then Bildad, feeling that he must get his two cents in responds by saying just admit that you are wicked and be done with it.

I am often amaze at what miserable comforters we can be.  I have seen people try to comfort widowers at funerals by saying “at least she’s in a better place.”  I have seen people go up to a mother who just suffered a miscarriage and say, “you’re young enough that you can always have another child,” or “God must have known that it was better this way.”  I have seen girls comfort their girlfriends after a big break-up with a guy by saying, “he’s not worth it.”  Those are terrible ways to comfort a person.

Let me share a secret.  If you ever want to comfort someone keep your mouth closed.  Hug them, put your arm around them, let them cry on you, cry with them, do their dishes, mow their yard, drop off food, wash their car, pay one of their bills, write them a poem, pray with them (preferably without talking).  Those are some of the ways to be a good comforter.

I know that you have never tried to comfort someone by calling them a fool as did Eliphaz.  But the next time God calls you to comfort someone take it a step further and demonstrate your comfort to them.   Comfort expressed through words is seldom remembered, comfort expressed through deeds is seldom forgotten.

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