“…what do your arguments prove?” Job 6:25b

Again, Job confronted his friends with a challenge:

“Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind? You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend.” (vv. 26 – 27)

Job compared his friend’s statements with the despicableness of human trafficking! In other words, their ‘counsel’ had no real righteous cause. There are those who lie in wait for the powerful and rich to fall… even the ones who are good and fulfill their role with integrity. Job and his friends all lived in an era that touted schools of wisdom and the social graces and expectations which developed from open discourse. However, Job was looking for the decency of simple kindness – the true evidence of a godly man or woman. Lofty words or diatribes on wisdom’s virtues were not appropriate for someone suffering the way Job had suffered.

Casting lots for the fatherless gave a philanthropic appearance to a dark practice. Those with means would cast lots to take in orphans who often became slaves or mistreated, underappreciated and unloved servants. Job called-out a similar practice when one might enter into indentured service to a friend after sickness had killed his own flocks (v.27). It appeared like a good deed, yet often the one on the serving end of the proposition got the short end of the stick. For example, Jacob worked fourteen years for his wife’s father who originally promised her to him for seven years of service, only to deceive him through a socially acceptable ‘loophole’ (read Genesis 29:18-30).

In this passage we learn to take ministry to the next level by not correcting a despairing person, for it does not meet the immediate psycho-emotional needs of the one in distress. Instead, listening and kindness go a long way. You may have the strongest argument in world to state your case and provide a ‘solution’ to the suffering, but what would your arguments prove? Instead, offer the simple ministry of presence to those hurting from catastrophic tragedy.

Oftentimes, when one is going through hardship, one may say things with which you disagree or may even find offensive. To add to the anxiety would only make bad matters worse. Showing up and exhibiting kindness will be the best antidote for the moment. Ministry to others can never be based on the convenience of our personal schedule and expectations.

Have a blessed day…