It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has. (JOB 42:7)
The world is filled with people who supposedly speak for God. They were present in Job’s day, and they are everywhere present today. But are they telling us the truth?
During Job’s trials, three friends came and interpreted what they thought God was doing with Job and why. They even told him what he should do.
The problem was, they were wrong. Completely. Their counsel (supposedly from God) could not have been more in error.
God came to Job (recorded in Job 40-42) and told his faithful servant the truth. But he doesn’t ignore the falsehoods that Job’s three friends had promoted
He was angry. His “wrath was kindled” against them, and it took a sacrifice that Job made on their behalf to rectify the situation. God doesn’t like to be misrepresented. It demeans His character and hurts His people.
Jesus would later reiterate this sentiment when he said about false teachers, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea (Matthew 18:6).
GIVING AND RECEIVING ADVICE
… is a vitally important task. We are helped by pastors, spiritual leaders, and friends who care for us enough to speak the truth in love. It’s God’s design for His kingdom's growth for us to be trained by others and then do the same for those behind us. But as we do, we must make sure what we are saying is coming from the truth of God’s Word, prompted by His Spirit. Don’t sling around your thoughts carelessly, particularly when you are intimating that you are speaking for God.
And don’t believe everything you hear, even from supposed experts. Be like the Berean Christians who were “more noble” than others, for they “received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so (Acts 17:11).
Father, thank You for giving us everything we need in Your Word for life and godliness. Thank You for placing Your Spirit in us to guide us; to speak to us and through us. Help us rely on Your Word and Your Spirit to help others and “rightly divide the Word of truth.” And give us the wisdom to test what we hear on the anvil of Your Word. Let us represent You accurately so others may know You as You are.
As a pastor for the last 55 years, I have had the joy of being encouraged and blessed and prayed for by so many people. It is what carries you in your task of shepherding people. As I look back over five decades of ministry, their love has dramatically enriched my life.
But also, a pastor leads. And when anyone leads, there are almost always some who disagree.
