S(Job 2:13) And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.
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These three men demonstrated perfect friendship by being swift to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19). Unfortunately, even after waiting until Job spoke first, they later demonstrated being too quick to wrath (James 1:19) and too quick to try to fix what they thought was Job's problem. Armed with misplaced truths, wrong assumptions, and incomplete knowledge, their eagerness to help only increased Job's suffering (Job 42:7,8).
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Because my habit has been to fear pain and sneak out of God's refining processes, I am too quick to try to coach other people out of their pains. I've too frequently underestimated the healing virtues of simply listening well before trying to teach, advise, or otherwise solve other people's problems. Had they really heard Job's patience, I wonder if Job's friends might have actually helped him (James 5:7-11).
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Lord, Ito some degree, we all try to teach and help each other. I hold up to You, for Your help, the teachers who speak into my life (past, present, and future). Whether formally or informally, casually or carefully teaching me, they carry a huge responsibility, and You hold them accountable to a high standard (James 3:1,2). Help them to do well, and help me to be discerning.
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