Speak Jesus, Not Bildad

Challenge 30 - Joy in Spite of Stoopidity

Bildad, described as a friend of Job’s, is bound and determined that Job’s suffering is a result of some unrighteousness in his life, or his children’s lives.

He lays out a picture of those who forget God (he’s looking at you, Job…yikes): withering, hopeless, no confidence, temporary and fragile trust, no sturdy foundation. And he calls this their joy. Remember Job was not a poor, destitute person prior to being given over to Satan’s hand. He was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil…this man was the greatest of all the people of the east (Job 1: 1, 3 ESV). And yet his friend lumps him into those who have forgotten God. And all in the name of “comfort”. Bildad basically says that Job must repent or he will wither away to nothing, forgotten, and easily replaced. He has declared Job guilty.

There are a couple of things that came to mind with this verse (the chapter really):

Bildad would make a great prosperity gospel preacher…a health and wealth homilist.

There will always be people who equate all suffering with sin. I’d like to think they haven’t suffered sans sin yet. Wouldn’t that be a fabulous life?!

Let’s dig into the second a bit.

I personally hold to the concept of original sin and the resulting brokenness, or suffering, in the world. People sin and people suffer. People don’t sin and people suffer. That is the result of living in a sinful, broken world, not necessarily of being the one sinning.

If you happen to be in a situation where you are observing the suffering of another because of sinful choices you have also observed in them, proceed with love and gentleness as Scripture requires. To do so any other way is, well, sinful. This is how we are to approach those with whom we share fellowship with Jesus.

If you happen to be walking alongside someone who does not know Jesus, who is suffering, they too should be approached in love. Not fire and brimstone. Meet their needs, it doesn’t matter why they need meeting. Show them the gospel. Serve them. Love them. And make sure they know it’s because Jesus loves them too.

And when you come alongside someone who is suffering through no fault of their own, comfort them. Love them. Don’t get offended by their words. Tell them it is ok to be pissed off. Assure them that God will not turn away from their angry words, their doubtful cries, or their silence. Remind them to remember the ways God has been with them.

Suffering sucks. Whether it is because one sinned or not. Suffering just plain old sucks. And as we continue this journey through all the places “joy” shows up in the Bible, we will be seeing how even in suffering we can have joy. Not the temporary joy of possessions and good health that will wither in hopelessness, but the steadfast joy of knowing Christ no matter if we are in a season of suffering or not.

May people meet Jesus in their suffering when you speak, not Bildad.