Job Chp. 11-37

Sometimes, we let ourselves be controlled by our friends, or either trusting them. And this is not bad; it is good for us as people to learn to trust others, therefore making us more ‘socially-active’ beings.

Now, friendship and advice plays an important role in this piece of Job. After Satan is able to torture Job, and Job is grieved and angry, his friends come, and give him advice.

Though practically they all say the same thing—that Job was punished because of being wicked—they might be wrong. Personally, I believe it was God the one being ‘wicked’, for once. There was no reason why Job deserved punishment.

So, these friends are blaming Job himself for the happenings, but Job decides not to trust them;

Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldneth thee that thou answerest?
(From Book 16)

Though they are our friends, we are the ones who decide whether we want them to control us, whether should be believe in the advice they give us. Job decided not to ‘follow’ them, and I guess it’s okay. What’s actually not right, is the way in which he responds, rather than saying thank you, for they gave their advice at least.

He recalls they are speaking ‘vain words’, therefore, in a foolish and perhaps dishonest way.

Yet, he is saying something very truthful; perhaps their advice was more blame than helpful. Though Job wasn’t very much aware of what he did, he had done it, and it was now in the past, unable to be changed. His friends should have at least focused a little less on this inaccessible past, and actually try to give advice to what Job might do now.

So, we could say none of the two ‘sides’ were completely right. Job did wrong in answering, as the friends did wrong in helping. We must understand that as imperfect beings, everything we have and give shall be imperfect as well (Friendship). We must also try to be patient, have friends, but have a little bit of self-control and decision—since it’s your life.