Responding to Negativity

 

    There are myths about Christianity that the public believe and some that Christians believe.  Many Christians believe that turning the other cheek means being a door mat.  That is not true.  When attacked sometimes being still or quiet can be powerful.  At other times, we need to defend ourselves by speaking God's truths.  

    Job had lost his business, employees, children, and health.  Now his friend Eliphaz was saying some insulting things like it was all his fault.  It would have been easy for him to get angry and just demand that his friends leave.  What he did takes a lot more effort, especially when you have no fight in you to deal with negative people.

    Job listened to everything Eliphaz said and waited for him to finish before he responded.  When he did respond, he didn't raise his voice, get angry, or insult him back.  He was grieved, but tried to reason with his friend to make him understand why he said he wished he had never been born.  Even the people closest to you misunderstand sometimes.  He was giving them the benefit of doubt.

    Job admitted that he believed he was being punished, but he could not figure out why.  He had lived a righteous life.  He had lost hope.  All he wanted was for God to grant him death, so that his agony would be over.  Even in all his agony, he would not deny that God is Holy.

    Job was sapped.  He had no energy, so he asked his friends to stay devoted and dependable.  Basically he asked them not to turn on him like everyone else seemed to be.  He needed spiritual help.  He was not asking for anything from them other than friendship and counsel.  

    Throughout it all, he still held onto his sanity and was pouring out his naked heart to his three friends.  He asked them to dig deep and really see him.  They knew him.  They knew his character, so why would they assume that he had some hidden evil in his heart.  He basically was asking them not to judge him.  If they had something real, then he would listen to their rebuke in silence.  

Job 6