Job Chapter 12: Verse 5 (NIV Anglicised version)
Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
Job’s friends are less than sympathetic to his trials. There’s definitely an air of self-righteous judgement in their advice to him, and this verse shows that he can see that. When everything is going well for us, we too can be in danger of being self-sufficient, with an “I’m all right, Jack” attitude. And worst of all at such times, can think that we don’t need God as much. We leave His help to those who have a ‘real’ need in their lives. When we are in that frame of mind our compassion can disappear too – we see others struggling and are maybe not as sympathetic as we should be. But we would be wise to remember that old saying, “There but by the grace of God go I.”
We should always depend on God, in the good times as well as the difficult ones. There should never be a time when we think we can get along without Him. In the good times He wants to use us as a blessing to others , and in our difficult times, which will come again at seasons of our lives, then we can be blessed by the help and support of others that God will send across our paths.
Its easy to think we can live our own lives without impacting others, but we do, and those who follow Jesus must remember that we are His representatives, so contempt for others, or rejoicing at their misfortune, should have no place in our lives.
Dear Lord,
I know I am guilty at feeling self-sufficient at times. But I know I need Your presence in my life to keep my heart tender, not haughty or proud. Forgive my attitude if I feel people are getting their just deserts. I don’t deserve the grace and mercy that You show me, so I have no grounds to judge others.
I ask these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen