If there be any virtue--if there be any praise, think on these things.
(from Philippians 4:8)
Our scriptures today contain one verse that puts everything else in perspective for us, "For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ" (Romans 14:10). This verse begins by asking us two questions, "But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother?" "Contempt" includes the ideas of repugnance, loathing, disgust, hatred, etc. While these definitions accurately describe the attitude of Job's friends, the practice of contempt for others is not limited to the men of Job's day.
A short verse in today's reading in Proverbs helps shed some light on why Job's friends (or we) practice contempt for others. "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" (v. 7). I wonder whether Job's friends harbored jealousy and envy in their hearts toward Job before his tragedies struck. This might serve to explain their inhumane lack of kindness toward him in his suffering. Contempt to the degree they carried it out seems to have taken on a life of its own. They could not control their tongues--their envy, jealousy, and contempt for Job were now in charge! Jesus used the example of leaven to illustrate how sin spreads. Once we begin to nurture unkind thoughts about someone, they may grow in our hearts until that is all we think about. (Also, Satan is known as "the accuser of the brethren" (Revelation 12:10), and when we accuse others we are following his lead.)
Paul continues in verse 19, "Therefore let us pursue things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another". Contempt for others also stems from pride. When we adopt the attitude that "we would NEVER do that", or that we are better than someone else, there is little place in our hearts for peace and edifying someone. Eliphaz attacks Job in chapter 22:5, by asking him, "Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquity without end?" What if it was? Eliphaz has no power to change Job. He is evidently attempting to make himself look good at Job's expense. Eliphaz might be surprised to realize that God says we are also guilty of the very things we accuse others of doing.
The more time we spend focusing on God, perhaps even "(singing) to the Lord a new song" (Psalm 96:1), and considering His honor and majesty, strength and beauty, the less time we will have to develop negative thoughts about others that can explode into contempt for them. Dr. Stanley shares eight points with his readers about how we can know Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives. Unfortunately, we sometimes receive pleasure and satisfaction in treating others with disdain. Point 4, says, "Jesus Christ is Lord of my life when pleasing Him takes precedence over pleasing any other person . . .including ourselves". Point 8, says Jesus is Lord of our lives "when knowing Him becomes the obsession of my life". In the Book of Job, God gives us the opportunity to see the ugliness of contempt for others. There is no "strength and beauty" here. May we focus on bringing honor and glory to God by living lives that are free of contempt for those created in the image of God. May we be ready to stand before God at any given moment and "give account of (ourselves) to God" (Romans 14:12).
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