The Other Fellow's Shoes
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin Overfield
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2000
The Other Fellow's Shoes
"Then Job answered and said, I have heard many such things: miserable
comforters are ye all. Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth
thee that thou answerest? I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in
my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at
you. But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips
should asswage your grief. Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and
though I forbear, what am I eased?" (Job 16:1-6). Especially notice the
words "if your soul were in my soul's stead".
Thus spake the man whose moral, and spiritual character God Himself said
was "perfect". Also, God equated Job's quality of character with that of
both Noah and Daniel (Ezekiel 14:14, 20).
Job had been through more and greater trials in a rather short period of
time than most servants of God have to face. He is the classic Biblical
example of one who suffers patiently (James 5:11).
Yet, Job had a further problem with which many of us today can identify,
though we may not receive anywhere near the size of Job's entire package of
suffering. He had "friends" who were attempting to "help" him by offering
many words that had a tendency to blame him for his problems and, if
possible, to even make his burden heavier.
Job spoke out of the depths of his heart, his pain, and desperation:
"miserable comforters are ye all". Oh, how many times I have observed the
sharp words of people who thought they were doing good, but who truly did
not understand the trial(s) of the one they were criticizing.
"If your soul were in my soul's stead", then you would understand better
what I am going through. Notice that Job actually said, "But I would
strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage
your grief." This again reveals the true character of Job. He was here
living
out an Old Testament example of the New Testament principle that we call
"The Golden Rule": "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the
prophets." (Matthew 7:12) Again, this same intention is representative of
that love of God, which shed abroad in our hearts enables us to love our
neighbor as ourselves.
The other fellow's shoes may not outwardly appear to meet our
specifications for righteousness, but if we only knew what it is like to
wear those shoes! If we only knew how it really feels to be the target of
the worst the Devil can do, then we might have a greater compassion upon
our fellow man in his difficulty. Let us just assume that we could
experience
exactly what our brother experiences -- which cannot be done for we can
never be someone else. Then we would not want others to pounce upon us
as we have pounced upon others. Say, sometimes one word can make a
world of difference for better or worse.
There was a man who decided that he understood the problems of a
pastor, because he had "filled in" for a while. But, he knew not the
burning
call of God, nor the lifetime commitment, nor the full weight of
responsibility
that the God-appointed man feels. Neither did he know how constantly some
pastors/preachers have faced the brunt of criticism just for trying to be
faithful to God and never-dying souls.
You see, I have been on the layman's side and "filled in", and I have
been in the shoes of the pastor. I can testify by personal experience that
there is a great difference. This I only use as one illustration of this
truth.
Dear Lord, help us to apply this truth to our own selves. Please fill
us with the love and grace to be more understanding and compassionate
towards one another. I ask it in Jesus name and for Your glory. Amen
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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