Job 26

Verses 1-14, “But Job answered and said: “How have you helped him who is without power? How have you saved the arm that has no strength? How have you counseled one who has no wisdom? And how have you declared sound advice to many? To whom have you uttered words? And whose spirit came from you? “The dead tremble, Those under the waters and those inhabiting them. Sheol is naked before Him, And Destruction has no covering. He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing. He binds up the water in His thick clouds, Yet the clouds are not broken under it. He covers the face of His throne, And spreads His cloud over it. He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, At the boundary of light and darkness. The pillars of heaven tremble, And are astonished at His rebuke. He stirs up the sea with His power, And by His understanding He breaks up the storm. By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, And how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?”

Job considered all the words that his friends had given him and asked them how they were helpful and whose spirit did they come from. Unless our words are from the Holy Spirit, they do the hearer no good. Whether it be your personal advice or demonically inspired wisdom...our enemy doesn't really care, as long as people are kept from the truth that will save them. James 3:13‭-‬18, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

In order for anything wise to come out of our mouths, we must first be submitted to God and yielded to His Spirit. Nothing good ever comes from our flesh or our self-focused desires. Furthermore, if anyone comes to you in need (physical or spiritual), it is cruel to send them away empty handed...especially when you have the wisdom of God to share with them.  I John 3:16‭-‬18, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”  Love is not ignoring their need and sending them away, but rather demonstrating the love of Christ to them. 

We see the principle of giving material goods

throughout the Scriptures time and time again...but how much more important is it to help meet a spiritual need in others?  James 2:15-17, “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”  Our words profit nothing to the hearer if you do not point them to where their spiritual needs can be met. These are the spiritually hungry, naked, and destitute of the world that we are called to shine His light for. Jesus told Peter that if he truly loved Him to feed His sheep. God was certainly not referring to their physical hunger. He has a heart of compassion for these folks...and so should we IF we truly love Him!

Often we talk ourselves out of speaking the truth to others, mostly to avoid awkwardness to our own flesh. No one wants to have their words rejected or be mistreated. Others will go into Christian stealth mode (trying to blend in and be relevant to the world), thinking that they will have an opportunity down the road to share the truth...but it only becomes increasingly more difficult for our flesh.  Proverbs 3:27‭-‬28, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.”  

We are told not to worry about the physical...what we will eat or wear...not because we do not need these things, though. God just wants our eyes open and our focus to be on the spiritual matters that are of eternal consequence.  Matthew 6:31‭-‬33, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  Consider that God often uses these physical needs to get our attention and refocus us, getting our eyes back on the spiritual. Maybe that is exactly how you can best help another when they come to you in their time of need.