My Bible reading this week has been in the book of Job. I am always amazed at Job's patience in the midst of all his suffering. But, this week, I noticed something that I hadn't noticed before. At the end of chapter one, after losing all that he had, the Bible says "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."
In chapter two, God allows Satan to touch Job's body, so that he is covered with sores, and his body is wracked with pain. His wife comes to him saying he should just curse God and die. Still, the Bible says, "In all this did not Job sin with his lips." In fact, he rebuked his wife for her bad attitude.
In the latter part of chapter two, Job's friends come to see him and mourn with him. They stayed with him for seven days. I don't know what they said or did during those seven days, but look how Job's attitude is changed. "After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day."
What happened to his good attitude? What happened to his rebuke? Where's his motto "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord"?
It could be that Job had just suffered for too long, but I think it has to do with his friends' company. If you read on, his friends are pessimistic to the end. They don't seem like people I would like to hang around with. You know the kind I mean. Those people who, after you're around them for just a few minutes, you want to go and hang yourself.
Negativity is contagious. I believe Job's friends passed their negative attitudes onto Job. That's why it is so important to watch our attitudes and guard our hearts. Not only is it harmful to us, but we may be injuring another person in the process. It is imperative that we stay positive!
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
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