In the Old Testament, Job and Daniel  had much in common. Both went through serious trials and challenges. Both had great success because of the blessing of God’s presence in their lives. Both are viewed as giants of the faith, one for his patience in suffering and the other for his purity in an impure culture.

Job and Daniel had something else in common—each had three significant friends. Here, however, the similarities end. Job’s friends became a thorn in his flesh, offering him condemnation when he needed compassion and companionship. As Job struggled with loss and grief, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar seemed bent on intensifying his pain rather than helping him in his adversity.

Daniel’s three friends were very different. Taken captive together, Daniel and his companions, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, supported and strengthened one another in difficult times. They stood together in honouring God (Dan. 1) and in prayer (2:17-18) and in refusing to bow before the king’s image (3:16-18). That’s the kind of friends we need.

So what kind of friend are you? Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times.” Who needs you to be a friend today?

Author

Bill Crowder

Topics

Our Daily Bread