The Sermon Some Don't Need

The third speech of Eliphaz is more of the same. He had heard what Job had to say but he has not listened. Too bad. Because he simply ends up repeating his earlier arguments once again, offering little nuance to the context Job has provided. 

And in any other context, Eliphaz's message would make a fine Gospel sermon. 

Job 22:21–25 (ESV) “Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. 22 Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart. 23 If you return to the Almighty you will be built up; if you remove injustice far from your tents, 24 if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent-bed, 25 then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.

Those words could be used in almost any other context but not here and not now for Job. The problem? Eliphaz wants to proclaim the truth without searching out the situation he finds himself.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm listening enough to the people I preach to. Seriously, this is a struggle for any preacher as they simply wish to convey meaning and truth where it matters and where people will appreciate it. In other words, I do not wish to be an Eliphaz. 

Eliphaz makes the fine preacher promises at the end of his speech as well:

Job 22:26–28 (ESV) For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. 27 You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows. 28 You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

All this is true if Job is justifiably at odds with God. He is not. And herein lies the damage that can be done when someone offers truth to a place where they haven't discovered what's going on in the context. You end up with false promises and impossible expectations. 

You see, Job had all those things and they were taken to prove his faith was not attached to them but to the God who gave them. Now Eliphaz offers the wrong medicine at the wrong time. He seeks to lure Job into repentance by promising the good life. 

And yet so many preachers do the same thing, particularly those on Television. They consider God and obedience a means to the end and not the end. Job's story says the opposite. God is the end and the beginning and only in Him can we find our purpose and pleasure. 

So what is the lesson? To not simply offer our sermons but to listen to people's situation. To understand that everyone is somewhere in the journey of faith and understanding. That while the Lord is the answer at all times, the approach, content, and manner of presentation matter. Thus the Lord's words:

Matthew 10:16 (ESV) “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.