Last week in bible study, we began the book of Job. As I studied, I found it interesting that most of the beginning chapters are the conversations with Job and his three friends. What was also interesting was the judgment his so-called friends passed. I mean, here they come acting as if they really cared; they did sit with him for seven days and seven nights without mumbling a word but oh when they did, the first thing they suggest is that Job must have done something wrong and sinned against God because innocent people don’t suffer. After Job begins cursing the day he was born, the first friend replies saying Job you’ve always encouraged others during their times but now that trouble has struck you, you can’t handle it. Job listens because he believes encouragement is coming but Eliphaz then begins trying to convince Job to confess his sin. He says in Job 4:8, “My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same.” In other words, he’s saying Job must have sown trouble because it’s what he’s now reaping; all because Job’s glitz & glamour was gone. Yet, isn’t it crazy how quick folk will judge you in your trouble but wasn’t saying a word when they were reaping the benefits of your good? This is why I asked the question in bible study, “How well do you know your friends?” Can you answer that?
Think about it. Job loved these friends and called them brother but when he needed someone to comfort him, they cursed him instead. When he needed someone to lean on, they pushed him off. They came to see what he’d done to cause God to punish him, not to offer words of encouragement. And some of us are surrounded by folk like this. Yea, they act like they love us but wait until trouble comes. They’ll start whispering stuff like, “I didn’t know she’d do something like this,” or “He sure did have me fooled, I thought he was one of the good ones.” These kinds of folk are only around to benefit off your favor. They won’t come and pray for you but they’ll show up to pimp you for information. They don’t show up to console you but it’ll be more like confronting you. This is why you have to be mindful of who’s around you. You have to examine folk, now days, just to ensure they are willing to go through the good and the bad. You do know some folk are only hanging on to you for the good, right? They are there as long as you’re serving steak but starting offering ground beef and see what happens. Baby, you have to get somebody around who can pray you out of trouble when you can’t, encourage you when you’re hurting or who’ll tell you when you’re wrong. You have to get someone who’ll be willing to go to war (spiritually) on your behalf and not be the one cheering for your enemy! How well do you know your friends?
Lakisha, the Author 