One day a Mom & Dad dropped off their baby at the babysitters house. They had forgotten to bring diapers for her , so they went to Walgreens to buy diapers. They I walked in and asked someone, "Where do you have diapers?"The lady looked at them and then said, "Aisle 24." When they got to aisle 24,they found shelves full of adult diapers. They looked at each other and began to laugh. But Soon their laughter turned into upset, because they realized they had been insulted.The lady at Walgreen’s assumed that since they didn’t have a child with them, they were asking for adult diapers, not baby diapers.
What we assume to be true, we act on. And
False assumptions can lead to wrong conclusions, and wrong conclusions can lead to wrong actions. In some cases, we can laugh at the outcome of our false assumptions. In other cases, false assumptions can be deadly. For instance, many young people have the false assumption that a good marriage is built on a diamond ring, good feelings and compatibility. Such false assumptions lead to the wrong conclusion, that nothing else is needed to build a good marriage. And the result is inaction after marriage, which often leads to disappointment, disillusionment and even divorce.
This morning, we continue with our study in the book of Job, and we will look at some false assumptions . We are in chapter 8 of Job. let me review a bit for those who have not been with us and for those who have been with us but can’t remember we’ve ever looked into the book of Job. The book of Job is an epic poem that deals with the problem of suffering. Neither Job nor his friends, who were supposed to be comforting him, know that Job’s suffering was the result of a contest between God and Satan. Satan says to God, "The only reason Job is worshipping you is because you’ve blessed his life with wisdom, wealth, health and family. Take away the blessings and watch Job curse You." And God replied, "Go ahead, take away the blessings, and you’ll see that Job will not curse Me." By chapter 3, Job’s children had all died. Poverty replaced Job’s wealth. A terrible disease robbed Job of his health. Self-pity replaced Job’s wisdom. Death became a welcomed friend to Job.
In chapters 4 and 5, Job’s friend, Eliphaz, speaks out. But instead of comforting Job, Eliphaz condemns Job for not applying his own teaching to endure suffering. Job responds with angry words in chapters 6 and 7. He points out that Eliphaz simply hasn’t understood the magnitude of suffering he is under. Job, feeling like God has abandoned him, is begging for compassion and devotion from his friends. And in chapter 8, the second of three friends responds to Job’s words. Bildad speaks out. (READ Job Ch.8)
With a comforter like Bildad, you don’t need an enemy. Bildad failed to feel Job’s pain. As a result, Bildad assumed Job needed correction rather than comfort. Job’s friends’ theology was right as far as it went, but it was very incomplete. They never seemed to be aware of that. They always spoke with the utmost confidence that what they were saying was the final word on the subject. There was no apparent understanding that perhaps there were aspects of God and dimensions to his Word that they had not yet seen.
(This is certainly true of Bildad at this point, and of the next speaker, Zophar.) Their narrow, limited vision said that difficulties in a person’s life were always caused by sin. Now many of the problems of life are caused by sin, therefore, it is impossible to say to these men that they are wrong. evertheless, they do not see that there are other reasons why God brings us into suffering. Like many of us today, they judge only on the basis of a very rigid theology that takes note of certain aspects of truth, but ignores others.
Like the famous story of the blind men and the elephant. They gather around this huge animal and by feeling it, try to identify what an elephant is like. One, grabbing the trunk, said an elephant is like a snake. Another, feeling the leg, said an elephant is like a tree. Still another, feeling the side of the animal, said that an elephant is like a wall. A fourth, grabbing the tail, said an elephant is like a rope. Thus they argued back and forth. All of them were right, and all of them were wrong, because they did not see the whole picture.
Bildad assumed he knew what was happening to Job. He assumed that people always get what they deserve. He assumed there was no exception. He assumed Job’s situation would improve if Job trusted in God. But we know from chapters 1 and 2 that Job did trust God, and things got worse.
False assumptions add insult to injury. People who are suffering need to know what the Bible says about God and about suffering. The sooner we identify false assumptions and correct them, the sooner we can live healthier lives. Let’s identify and correct the false assumptions of Bildad.
The first false assumption is that God carries out His judgment promptly. We see this in verses 1-10.
Bildad basically says to Job, "Your children died because they sinned against God & got what they deserve. How cruel is this statement? Would you tell a neighbor whose home has burned to the ground, "Well you must have sinned and you got what you deserve."
Note: If Job’s children have sinned the Bible does not state it. How often we say, “Well they had it coming to them. They brought it on themselves.” When we say this we have made ourselves judge of the person and the situation. Whenever someone is suffering, we should be weeping because of their suffering, rather than being judgmental.
Bildad continues And Job, if you know what is good for you, you would get on his knees before God and beg for mercy for yourself." Bildad supports his claim by telling Job that the ancients teach this also.
Bildad assumed that God promptly rewards the good person and promptly punishes the bad person. Even people who don’t believe in God hold a similar false assumption, that those who do good will receive good in return, and that those who do wrong will receive bad in return.Unfortunately, life doesn’t match up with this false assumption. And those who hold to this assumption become confused and disillusioned. Some even turn away from God or say, "There is no God."
We have all seen the good person go unrewarded and the bad person go unpunished. If that were not true, practically everyone would be good and no one would be bad. The Bible tells us that God sends the rain on the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:45) It is only by the grace of God that we receive anything good. I am glad that God does not give me what I deserve. I am glad that there is grace and mercy. There are times when I pray for justice. When some one does evil to me I pray for justice on that person. "God get them." But I don’t want justice for me - I want grace and mercy.
God doesn’t always carry out his judgment promptly . Yet, just because God doesn’t balance his books at the end of each day doesn’t mean that God doesn’t balance his books eventually.
2 Peter 3:9-10 tells us, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare."NIV Peter is saying, don’t confuse God’s patience with no judgment at all.
Supreme Court Justice Horace Gray once said to the man who escaped conviction on a technicality: "I know that you are guilty and you know it, and I wish you to remember that one day you will stand before a better and wiser Judge, and that there you will be dealt with according to justice and not according to law."
Meanwhile, we must not assume that every illness, financial problem or relational problem is God’s judgment. These problems are often the result of neglecting good health, financial and relational principles.
The second false assumption is that those who trust God are free from suffering.We see this false assumption in verses 11-19.
Bildad is saying, "Job, your sons died because they were living life without God. And you’re suffering because you are not trusting in God. If you were spiritual, you would have the strength to overcome your loss and your pain."
Many Christians believe this false assumption. when illness, suffering and loss occur in our lives, we wonder if we’ve done something to cause God to abandon us. Some even go as far as doubting that they are Christians.
Charles Swindoll lists what he calls the "four spiritual flaws":
Flaw #1: Because you are a Christian, all your problems are solved. (Please do tell non-Christian this.)
Flaw # 2: All the problems you will ever have are addressed in the Bible. (When your computer crashes, please don’t go to the Bible. Go to your computer manual or call technical support.)
Flaw #3: If you are having problems, you are unspiritual. (Remember Job was spiritual, and that was why he had all those problems.)
Flaw #4: Being exposed to sound Bible teaching automatically solves problems. (Hearing Bible teaching is not the same as obeying what the Bible teaches.)
Yet, we want to believe this false assumption, because we want one answer for all of life’s problems. Having a right relationship with Jesus Christ does not replace living wisely, managing our resources well and relating wisely with others. We still need to live responsibly, and we still contend with our sinful nature, other people’s sins and the schemes of Satan.
Jesus tells us in John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." In other words, God allows us to have troubles in life, so that we can learn to trust in Him.
Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:12-13, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
For every non-Christian who suffers from cancer, a Christian suffers from cancer, so that the world can see the difference. For every non-Christian who is laid off from work, a Christian is laid off from work, so that the world can see the difference. For every non-Christian who has a bad day, a Christian has a bad day, so the world can see the difference Jesus Christ makes in our lives.
Bildad was wrong in assuming that Job’s suffering is evidence of his life without God. We are wrong to assume that illnesses, suffering and temptations in people’s lives are evidences of God’s absence. And God’s presence in our lives does not guarantee our freedom from suffering or problems.
Someone tells about a carpet-layer after he finished installing a new carpet. He reached into his shirt pocket for a cigarette, but the pack was wasn’t in his pocket. Just then he noticed a lump under the carpet in the middle of the room, about the size of the missing cigarette pack.There was no way to get the cigarette pack out from under the attached carpet without ripping everything up and starting over. So he took his hammer and beat the object flat to destroy any evidence of his mistake.He then gathered his tools and walked out to his truck. There on the seat of his truck was his pack of cigarette. As he lit up a cigarette, the homeowner hurried out of the house and asked, "Hey, have you seen my son’s hamster?"
False assumptions lead to wrong conclusions. Wrong conclusions lead to wrong actions. And sometimes to correct false assumptions, we have to rip everything up and start over with God’s revealed truth. I think one of the most helpful things about the book of Job is that it teaches us the danger of speaking from an incomplete theology, of trying to analyze God’s workings with only a narrow understanding of how he works, and what are the causes behind his actions in human life. This produces many of the problems we suffer with one another.
We have all encountered people like Job’s friends who come around positive they know what the problem is. They have a very rigid, theological explanation of our difficulty. And it is right, as far as it goes, but it does not go far enough.A major thing that is wrong with these friends is that they never seem to go to God for help in understanding Job’s problem. They never pray with Job. They never ask God for help to open their minds and to illuminate their understanding so that they can help their friend. The book is filled with prayers, but they are all the prayers of Job, crying out to God in the midst of his sufferings. His friends never seem to feel the need for further illumination on the subject. What a testimony to us for the need to speak cautiously when we deal with the deep hurts and problems of life.
How Can We Be A Friend To The Suffering?
1. We can be there for them.
2. We can feel their pain.
3. We can encourage them.
4. We can listen more than we talk.
5. We can be honest: I don’t know… don’t try to explain everything.
6. We can look beyond their faults and look to their needs.
7. We can emphasize God’s love and compassion.
8. We can pray for them.
Even though it may seem that life is crashing around you right now. And though you may wonder if you will make it through. Trust in the Lord, lean upon Him, stay faithful to God, and in the end you will be victorious. God will bring you through. He will open the windows of Heaven in your life once again, and your life will be ever more blessed because you proved your faithfulness through it all.
