During a period of high unemployment I organised a support group for fellow Christians to help them cope with looking for work. We provided C.V. reviews, networking and prayer support. One problem emerged: whenever someone got a job, he or she almost never returned to the group to offer encouragement. That increased the loneliness and isolation of those left in the group.

Worse, though, were comments from those who had never experienced a job loss. They mirrored the accusations of Job’s friends in his suffering: “If you were pure and upright, surely now [God] would awake for you, and prosper [you]” (8:6). By chapter 12, Job started to express things in terms modern workers can understand. He said that he felt judged by those whose life is easy (v.5).

When things are going well for us, we may start to think that we who don’t have troubles are better somehow, or are more loved by God, than those who are struggling. We forget that the effects of this fallen world happen to everyone.

We are all loved by the Lord and we all need Him—in good times and bad. The successes, abundance and positions that God has given to us are tools to help us encourage others in their time of need.

Author

Randy Kilgore

Topics

Our Daily Bread