YOU DON’T KNOW A PERSON’S HEART!

YOU DON’T KNOW A PERSON’S HEART!

As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. —Job 4:8

His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them. —Job 5:4

Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. —Job 5:17

Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray. —Job 6:24

            What kind of counselor are you?  Job’s friends surely were not encouraging or helpful.  They got it wrong.  We must be very careful and not think that we know what is in a person’s heart.  Only God knows the heart of a person.  “People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (I Samuel 16:7).  So, beware that you think you know what is going on in a person’s heart.

            Oh, what terrible counsel was given to Job.  His children were all killed in a wind storm and Job is told that, because of his sin, “His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.”  His children all just died and this is what is said to Job!  He is also being told that God is reproving Him and that he should “therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.”  Oh, how this counsel is faulty because God said of Job to Satan— “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8).  So this counsel was absolutely wrong.  How discouraging to have this type of counsel when going through such a horrific experience!   This just adds to the already existing pain.

            Yet, even while Job was being counseled wrongly, he said, “Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.”  Job was open to understanding if he had done something wrong.  But what was being said about him was speculation and assumption.  Oh, may we be careful not to do that to people.  Let us not think we know what is going on in a person’s heart.  Yes, Dear Father, help me to give faithful counsel to others and not presume to know what is going on inside them.  Please give wisdom in this by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  So may it be. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkSBmRAVXNc