Guilty Yourself

I am currently reading the book of Job. For those who don’t know, the book of Job fits into the ‘wisdom’ category of Scripture as it tells the story of one’s man intense suffering. What happened, why it happened, how he responded, how his friends responded, and then, how God responded to all to them.

After more or less losing everything, four of Job’s friends come to comfort him. But after Job gives vent to his internal struggle, his friends can’t help but speak. And what they have to say ends up bringing anything but comfort.

After Job responded to the first of his friends to speak up, essentially defending himself, another one of his boys, Zophar, speaks. And more or less, Zophar tells Job that the fact he is suffering so much is a clear indication of his great sin. And the fact that Job doesn’t think it is his sin at fault (which it is not), makes it all the worse.

At one point, however, Zophar says,

“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven- what can you do? Deeper than Sheol- what can you know?” (Job 11:7-8)

And on and on he goes, telling Job that he shouldn’t pretend to know the purposes of the Almighty. But here is the ironic thing: Zophar is guilty of the same thing! After all, he is the middle of telling Job the reason for his suffering. He is pretending the know the purposes of the Almighty. He is arrogant enough to think that he has the answer.

Before we look down upon Zophar, however, let us recognize that we do the same thing. All of us. Particularly when we are found frustrated with another’s actions or words, or when we stick up our noses at someone else for their failure, we are Zophars. We are guilty of whatever we are frustrated with in another. Maybe not as obviously, but guilty nonetheless.

Romans 2:1 says, “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.”

Some folks out there might not believe it, but if you look carefully at your attitudes and actions, you will recognize that whatever you are apt to criticize in another, you are guilty of yourself.

So what are you frustrated with today? Take note and be sure to count yourself guilty before you do anything else. It will either give great humility and wisdom to your words or keeping you from saying something very stupid.