January 17th, 2005

The Right Perspective

Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker? If God places no trust in his servants, if he charges his angels with error, how much more those who live in houses of clay… Job 4:17-19

These words are not said by a man who always says the right thing, but by one of Job’s unpleasant comforters. He accuses Job, a man crushed by misfortune, of being a great sinner—why else would God have brought him so low?

We should never speak like this to people who are unfortunate, reminding them of their sins as if they, because of their misfortune, were greater sinners than we are. Often we do not know anything about those who suffer, and then we have good reason to show compassion and sympathy. That is more humbling than behaving like a disciplinarian. And if we do know something we must nevertheless go gently because we usually feel guilty of the same sin.

If affliction befalls us, let us be more humble, repentant, and broken in spirit. Even if we do not have great and crying sins on our consciences, we can always bear in mind that we are not righteous, pure people and not blameless servants, that we also have much foolishness in us. Let us remain patient, humble and reverent, worshipping the Lord. He acts wisely and aims only at the good with everything he does.

Bill Beagle

© 2005 TeamRFC