Job's Friends

I have been reading a little of Job in the past couple of days, and a few ideas have struck me:

• Job’s friends assumed he had done something wrong to open the door for catastrophe
• Job defended his innocence, and cried out for a hearing with God to protest injustice
• Job’s friends did not believe him
• Job tells his friends to stay silent; he speaks of them as mockers and enemies when he addresses God.
• Job’s friends continue to press their case
• God is angry with Job’s friends, because unlike Job, they have not spoken rightly about God.
• God tells Job’s friends to bring animals for Job to sacrifice to God on their behalf
• When Job prays for his friends, God restores his fortunes.

I know that when I hear of others in trouble, especially when I believe there is a connection between the trouble and previous choices they have made, I tend to judge them. A simple example is a parent who disciplines in a different manner to myself, and who is now having trouble with a defiant child. 

But the message I am hearing from this book is: do not presume to judge or blame those in trouble, for if you do, you will be acting as an enemy. Instead, offer comfort and help as you are able.

When you see or hear of others in trouble, do you look for things they may have done to contribute to the problem?