My husband is typically the master griller of the household. Recently we were having steaks for dinner. Never in my five and a half years of marriage have I felt the need to tell my husband how to grill. I shared with him that I thought he should use the grill mat we had gotten for the steaks because I thought it would “grill them well.” I even told him the temp I thought they should be grilled at.
Being the kind husband he is, he listened to where I was coming from and decided to do what I said. Long story short, they were the worst steaks he had ever grilled. He followed my unwarranted and uninformed advice because I inserted my opinion where it didn’t need to be. I believed I knew better. My husband chose to trust me and it turned out in this case (which rarely happens) that I was wrong.
As humans in relationships, we must decipher where we get our information. Are we being smart about it? Are we seeking wisdom from people who speak the truth or are they just blowing smoke? In this case, my husband should have gone with his gut feeling and grilled the steaks the way he knew how.
As we read about the case that Elihu presents against Job, I am reminded of how important it is to navigate who is speaking truth in our lives. We make hundreds of decisions a day if not more. As followers of Christ, we want to focus on the advice and seek it from the truth-tellers rather than the people who actually don’t know what they are talking about. Elihu teaches us some important lessons in these verses as he speaks truth to Job. Look at what we can take away from Elihu and answer the questions below that correspond with the lesson Elihu is teaching us.
Questions for reflection:
- Elihu dealt with the real issues of the situation rather than looking at the situation from a human perspective. // What situation are you up against right now that you could look at differently, maybe with a softened heart?
- Elihu also emphasized God and his greatness rather than focusing on a human response to problems. // When was the last time you focused on the human response vs. God’s response to a problem?
- Elihu responded with respect, allowing others to speak first before offering his own response. // How often do you let others speak before offering your own insights and opinions?