Encourage: Eliphaz

Eliphaz is the first of Job's friends to speak to him in his time of trouble. In Job 4 he encourages Job by referring to his character and strength. He is sure that Job must continue to hope because he is a good man and God is a just god. 

Job 4:17 'Can a mortal be more righteous than God? 

       Can a man be more pure than his Maker?

It is evident that Eliphaz doesn't have all the details. His counsel to Job comes from the things he knows. He is a man of knowledge and a religious man that believes the importance of God's discipline. In Job 5, you can hear the poetry in Eliphaz as he speaks of God's greatness. He even talks about how a man that is disciplined is blessed. 

 

Job 5:¹⁷ "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; 
       so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

As a friend or mentor many of us encounter opportunities to love on people. Each time we are given the opportunity to encourage and share God's glory. Most of the time we don't have all of the details. Regardless of who we speak with, we bring our past, our knowledge and our sense of religion to the conversation. Remember when you love on people that you are only getting a snapshot of their lives and circumstance. Be open to the plan that only God knows. Encouragement is a calling. It is you at the very moment someone needs to know something good. Continually share the characters of someone and the beauty of our Savior. Remember to not make too many assumptions, what you think is going on may not be the story at all. 

Pray for Erika W this week