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CARELESS SPEECH
MONDAY, MAY 2
Job 15:1-13

James 3:1-10

 

“…if any man offend not in word,

the same is a perfect man…”

 

CARELESS SPEECH
 
Eliphaz, the oldest and supposedly wisest of Job’s three friends, replied to Job. He charged Job with using crafty language to confuse the issue and with irreverence in questioning God’s actions. Eliphaz said that Job filled “his belly with the east wind” (Job 15:2). This ancient expression speaks of man’s deepest innermost thoughts which are made worthless by bitterness and anger. To “utter vain knowledge” (Job 15:2) refers to lengthy and useless chatter – people who have little to say often cover this by long speech.
 
Job was accused of hindering the worship of God by his speech. This is true in the sense that Job, in his anger, accused God of injustice. It is easy to sin with our lips when there is anger and frustration in our hearts (Job 15:1-6; Matt 15:11).
 
Eliphaz asked where Job had gotten all his wisdom. “Art thou the first man that was born?” (Job 15:7). This was the expression used for a man who claimed to have direct wisdom from God. He asked Job if he possessed some secret knowledge unknown to his friends.
 
Eliphaz accused Job of answering their gentle attempts to comfort him with anger. This was, of course, not entirely true since Eliphaz and his companions had unjustly accused Job of harbouring some horrible secret sin (Job 15:7-10).
 
We sympathise with Job and recognise that he did not have the Scriptures to guide him. Yet, his bitterness made it difficult for his friends to believe his claim. If he had dwelt less on his problem and more on his assurance of a proper relationship with God, he might have made a better case with his friends.
 
In times of trouble, we should learn from this fault of Job. It is only when we, with God’s strength, look beyond our present difficulties that our faith rings clear. Our verbal testimony must be reinforced by our life (James 1:22).
 
THOUGHT: What was Job’s major problem here?
PRAYER: Father, may the trials in my life lead to my spiritual growth.

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