Mondays Mini-Reflection

With fronds like these who needs anemones
​Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.  Job 6:14 - NIV

 Alastair writes: At first glance this seems like a simple message, be nice to your friends or else.... But it is not as simple as that.  In this case Job, the hero of this book of the Bible. in the next verses goes on to say (I'm paraphrasing  "but my friends are rubbish, they don't stand by me, they disappear like those streams that dry up in the summer."  It seems unlikely that there was an actual person called Job, more likely this book compiled from various writings over several centuries is an allegorical conversation.  Job, his harsh treatment by God and Satan and then his advice from his friends are set up to explain to us things about the relationship between humanity and God.
Perhaps you have had friends like this one of Job called Eliphaz.  His friend tries to make some helpful suggestions as to why Job's life is so rubbish.  These are largely to do with Job not being pious enough.  Job retorts that Eliphaz's words are without meaning, like insiped food is without taste and salt. Some of you may know my mother contracted and ultimately died from multiple sclerosis. One of my earnest, well meaning "evangelical christian" friends told me the reason she died was she did not "have enough faith." A strking similarity in my mind to this verse from Job. In this case though I think we perhaps need to read Job with Jesus in mind, as I feel certain Jesus would say "Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend  forsakes the fear of the Almighty.....yup that even includes those rubbish friends."
Our friends are not always as helpful as we hoped they would be, but we should still love them.
Have a good week with your friends, and every blessing.

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