Be Careful With Advice to Hurting People...

We, as believers, must always use restraint when we give advice or quote scripture. We should always go to God first before we spout off scripture or truths about God in any situation. The reason I say this is because what we say (to help) may be true (of God), but it may not apply to the situation we are addressing it to. The perfect example of this is in Job chapter 4. Eliphaz’s first response to Job contains truth, but he is dead wrong about this situation. And so we need to take caution when addressing issues with hurting people. Like the earlier entry, sometimes the best thing we can do is just sit beside the grieving person, and say nothing. Be careful with advice to anyone suffering.

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied to Job: 2 “Will you be patient and let me say a word?For who could keep from speaking out? 3 “In the past you have encouraged many people;you have strengthened those who were weak.4 Your words have supported those who were falling;you encouraged those with shaky knees.5 But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart.You are terrified when it touches you.6 Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence?Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope? 7 “Stop and think! Do the innocent die?When have the upright been destroyed?8 My experience shows that those who plant troubleand cultivate evil will harvest the same.9 A breath from God destroys them.They vanish in a blast of His anger.10 The lion roars and the wildcat snarls,but the teeth of strong lions will be broken.11 The fierce lion will starve for lack of prey,and the cubs of the lioness will be scattered. 12 “This truth was given to me in secret,as though whispered in my ear.13 It came to me in a disturbing vision at night,when people are in a deep sleep.14 Fear gripped me,and my bones trembled.15 A spirit swept past my face,and my hair stood on end.16 The spirit stopped, but I couldn’t see its shape.There was a form before my eyes.In the silence I heard a voice say,17 ‘Can a mortal be innocent before God?Can anyone be pure before the Creator?’ 18 “If God does not trust His own angelsand has charged His messengers with foolishness,19 how much less will He trust people made of clay!They are made of dust, crushed as easily as a moth.20 They are alive in the morning but dead by evening,gone forever without a trace.21 Their tent-cords are pulled and the tent collapses,and they die in ignorance. Job 4

14 “One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.15 My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook that overflows its banks in the spring Job 6:14-15

You, too, have given no help.You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid.22 But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift?Have I begged for anything of yours for myself?23 Have I asked you to rescue me from my enemies,or to save me from ruthless people?24 Teach me, and I will keep quiet.Show me what I have done wrong.25 Honest words can be painful,but what do your criticisms amount to?26 Do you think your words are convincingwhen you disregard my cry of desperation?27 You would even send an orphan into slaveryor sell a friend.28 Look at me!Would I lie to your face?29 Stop assuming my guilt,for I have done no wrong.30 Do you think I am lying? Don’t I know the difference between right and wrong? Job 6:21-30