Cut em' Loose~

Good afternoon~

 

Let's resume with yesterday's topic.

 

When my friend discovered her spouse's indiscretion, she did what most of us would do--she called her closest friends. I wonder, however, if she was prepared for their reaction.

 

Most everyone was supportive of her but not the marriage, and most everyone felt concern for her but not for the relationship.

 

Comments like, "Divorce that cheater!" and "You can do better!" were the prevailing pieces of advice she received. Not too many friends came alongside and offered to support her in her efforts to reconcile.

 

On a side note...I find it very interesting that all the same folks who so easily encouraged her to get a divorce all went home at night to the warm embrace of a loving spouse. Pride, I am told makes for a very lonely bedfellow. Unforgiveness, I have heard, isn't all that cuddly.

 

The Bible has a passage that deals with friends who might mean well, but when all is said and done, they were more of a hindrance then a help.

 

The book of Job is about a man who went from having it all--money, power, and family--to losing it every last bit of it. Job 2:11 says, "When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him."

 

They had good intentions, but that quickly shifted and they started judging him--implying that he was somehow responsible for all his own suffering because of some great sin in his life.

 

OUCH! His friends did the exact opposite of every thing we have been reading about in the DEVOs. And talk about a contrast to Christ's teachings. He taught us that only those who are perfect can throw stones, which pretty much means we are all disqualified.

 

At one point Eliphaz the Temanite even tells Job that, "He can cry for help, but no One will answer and the angels won't help either."

 

My goodness! Do any of us have the right to speak for God and decide who He will or will not answer?

 

Can you imagine if Job's friends would have rallied around him and my friend's friends would have rallied around her and just offered support?

 

It is so true what all our moms taught us about not saying anything unless you have something nice to say.

 

So as my friend started on the journey of forgiveness and reconciliation, she learned rather quickly who she would allow to travel with her. She chose her friends wisely and, for the sake of her marriage, was not afraid to cut some negative people loose. AMEN~

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Remind us to keep our opinions to ourselves. Embolden us to put our arms around those who are suffering and just pray for comfort and guidance. None of has the answers to the "whys" of life, but we can all help one another connect with You. In Jesus' name, AMEN~