"All the answers"

No doubt you have been in Job's situation--a calamity has befallen you, whether illness, natural disaster, death in the family, etc. and friends come to comfort you. But instead of just being there with you, they have to talk and not only talk but explain why it happened, or how you could have prevented it, or their Grandmother's cure for your illness, etc. Job's response is recorded in chapter 12, verse 2: "No doubt you are the people, And wisdom will die with you!"

Job's friends had all the answers. Job asked "why has this happened to me?" and they answered, "Obviously you're a sinner!" Never mind that they didn't know of any sin he had committed and didn't even have a reason to suspect him, but when people have all the answers they don't let little things like facts stand in their way. Job goes on to say that he has as much wisdom as they do--God later on reprimands them saying, "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has."(Job 42:7-8) My wife Dana suffers with severe asthma and usually her attacks send her to the hospital for at least 5 days. We have heard so many remedies for asthma, none of which has worked yet. At first it can be very aggravating but you finally get tired of it and eventually it just gets funny.

So the next time you are tempted to share your "wisdom" with someone stop and think before you speak. Are they looking for an answer or just venting? If they are looking for an answer, what do you have to back up your answer? Remember Prov. 10:19, "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,But he who restrains his lips is wise."

Tol