Back to Job for a lesson on friendship

Job 14-21
Who said that life is fair?
 This the answer I  use to give my children when they whined about something not being fair. "Who said life was fair.  If life was fair, My sister would be fat and I would be skinny, cause she eats more than I do.  How is that for a mature answer?

Job's friends are still rubbing salt into his open wounds. They are charging him with all sorts of iniquities that are proved by his words.  They accuse him of speaking like the devil and of being an arrogant know it all who thinks he has a monopoly on wisdom. All because of a long standing traditional wisdom. God protects the good and punishes they wicked. Job's calamities, in their small minds proves that he really is a wicked man.

Remember, these are his friends, who came to comfort him.  They end up tearing him down to build themselves up.  After all, God was not punishing them.  He was punishing this self-righteous know it all "friend".  In their hearts, they had long suspected that he really could not have been as good as he seemed. The green eyed monster always had them a little jealous of all his prosperity.

Do we secretly enjoy seeing those who make us feel inferior get what is coming to them.  Do we think, "I am so glad that it is them and not me'.  Do we laugh when the car that just cut us off and races by is stopped by the blue light special down the road?  Do we put down others to build ourselves up? Do we turn our heads from poverty or disaster because, we do not want to be brought down?  Are we fair weather friends?  Or even fair weather fans?  What kid of friend am I?  Do we come across as Job's friends did as haughty and self-righteous and no friend at all.

I think about the song." What a friend we have in Jesus"  He is our friend-redeemer-savior and so much more.  He is also our example on what a friend should be.

Lord help me to be a friend who builds up and does not tear down, one who is there when needed and one who loves at all times.