A Friend in Need

Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold.
Job 42:11
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A Friend in Need
Benjamin Franklin famously quipped, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” It would seem that Job’s brothers and sisters were really no friends at all. During his darkest hours Job was alone. No friends or family to comfort him. So often it can feel this way for us when we struggle with our own sin and suffering. Those closest to us seem to be the farthest from us. Now in Job’s case, God does not condemn or accuse Job’s brothers and sisters of abandoning him. There could have been many legitimate reasons they were not around to offer comfort. The same can be true in our own situations as well. But to be sure God uses Job’s family to bless him as Job also blesses his family. So we should be a blessing to those around us and recognize the blessings God offers us through our friends and families. But no matter the situation we find ourselves in in relation to others one thing is certain, our true family is our family of faith. Chosen by God and held together by His Word and promise we are built up by one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). And with God as our Father and Christ as our brother we have the assurance of a family that will never leave or ignore our needs. Simply look to the cross for proof. God gave His only Son to die for us and Christ willingly obeyed so that we might have restoration as a family once again.