“…where then is my hope?” Job 17:15a
/Believing his time on earth was drawing to an end, Job questioned if there was any possibility of extending his miserable existence. His friends had accused him of living wickedly; they were the type of friends who called darkness light (v.11).
Job saw death as his only ‘hope’ of relief from his pain and suffering (vv. 13 – 15a). He challenged his friends to discover any other alternative with today’s five understandable words, and pressed his point further by asking three additional questions:
“Who can see any hope for me?” (v.15b)
“Will it go down to the gates of death?” (v.16a)
“Will we descend together into the dust?” (v.16b)
It seems Job was sincerely inviting his friends to provide an encouraging word. Three friends… three questions. One can almost see Job turning to direct a question to each of them. Did they just sit there like a knot on a log and offer no consolation? According to Job’s record, that’s exactly what happened.
This was the moment his friends could have surrounded Job with their presence, affirming words, comforting gestures, and offerings to assist in re-establishing his life. Did that occur? No. Does nothing rise up from within you wishing his friends had actually made a difference in his life?
Social and political correctness are found in every culture, with as many differing perspectives and norms as there are nationalities. In Job’s day, the ‘evidence’ of his life pointed to some sin or wrong-doing in his life. His culture strongly held to the belief that things happen in one’s life for a reason: good things happen to good people; bad things happen to bad people. It was so deeply engrained within their world-view that it actually blinded Job’s friends to Job’s need for comfort and solace. It also blinded Job… he could not make sense of the devastation that had come upon him.
Are we caught in similar social expectations, limiting our own responsiveness to those hurting or despondent? Has our society lost the ability for compassion? Though we see ample examples of those who demonstrate otherwise on social media, is our society degrading into a pile-on toward the down and out, the
hurt, and the fallen?
As children of light, Christians should be quick to come to the need of those who often cannot express their felt-needs. Jesus taught us that heaven is real, and that we should prepare for it by responding to the needy in this way:
“Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; I needed clothes and you clothed Me; I was sick and you looked after Me; I was in prison and you came to visit Me.” (Matthew 25:34b – 36)
Jesus summarized this teaching this simple approach to meeting the felt-needs of others:
“…whatever you did for… the least of these… you did for me.” (Mt. 25:40)
There are people all around us asking themselves, “where then is my hope?”. You can answer their question by offering an encouraging word of hope, a visit, and meeting their apparent and immediate needs. You’re the only Jesus some will ever see.
Have a blessed day…