Job 2:11-13 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.
And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven.
So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that [his] grief was very great.
In this portion of scripture, we read about Job’s friends coming to see him after they had heard about the tragedy he had just experienced. He had lost all his 10 children at once and lost all his substance — 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen & 500 asses, all in one day! He’d been struck with boils as well, and his wife herself, encouraged him to die.
What sorrow! What pain! What hopelessness; that the last person you expected to disencourage you, is also giving you up to the grave.
What lifted Job on the other hand was seeing his friends. Though their conversation later was war like, let’s understand that we’d have not learned anything if they had not come to make Job talk.
Besides that, the main point was that they came. They sat down with him on the ground, for seven whole days and nights! Initially, none spoke a word to him, (for his grief was great)
Today’s blog is specifically teaching us on how to behave when we go to visit our friends and relatives, who have lost loved ones! Job’s three friends — in their action — bore the mark of the ministry of presence.
This is when you just show up even if you do not say anything. It is when you travel miles for a friend’s burial. It is when you fly back into the country for that friend’s wedding. It is when you take a break from work and attend that child’s school meeting or talent show.
These actions portray love to those that are being ministered to. Through this ministry, we assert that indeed love suffers long and that indeed love bears all things!
It shows that we are mindful of our friends, and that they are at heart. It is understandable when we may not travel long distances if not possible, but if it is, go the extra mile. If say you can’t make it for burial, go visit that person when they return. Even if Jesus was late for Lazarus’ funeral, he still showed up. And his showing up caused the resurrection of Lazarus!
You too might just never know what your showing up will cause! Never underestimate the power of being present!
When my best friend died, his girl friend was torn betwixt. She had a graduation party shortly after, and even if finances seemed to be unpleasing, God insisted that I went.
‘It’s called the ministry of presence.’ He said
When I got there, she had such a swell time. I and other friends caused her to burst into laughter, and live in the moment, quenching her sadness.
When we are present in the lives of those that matter, we are barricades of security and assurances of love to them. Many adults have grown up today feeling insecure and unloved because the people that mattered were never present in their lives.
Gangsters exist in many parts of America, and research says its leading cause is high levels of absence of fathers. Most of these cases are not those of death. They are men who took advantage of women and then took off leaving the mother to toil with raising a child.
Jackie Hill Perry, an outstanding poet and author was a victim of the ministry of absence. Her father was alive, but he visited her countable times while she was a child. As she began to reason, she thought she was not worthy of love. Many questions arose in her mind, and she somehow concluded that men are ‘trash’,because of what one man did.
That was the onset of her being her own man, believing that she didn’t need them, and gradually, she ended up a lesbian—her being the ‘guy’ in the relationship! It took God, and some time for her to heal and gain back her feminineness and vulnerability, and as we speak, she has been married for eight years, having fruit of four beautiful children!
Even if it all worked together for her good, her life just teaches us to be better, and to pose a question; ‘what could have happened if her father had been present?!’
Don’t let others ask that of you!
Be PRESENT!
For like Jesus’ case unto Mary and Martha, you just never know how incredibly good and miraculous your presence in that life (or lives) will be!
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1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.
Romans 1:11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—
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