“Sorry comforters are you all.” Ouch! Speaking from a place of deep anguish, Job declares that his friends were doing a lousy job as friends. They didn’t lack for words but their words did lack. He questions the ideological indigestion from which they spew advice. Given a reversal of situation Job concludes that he could do as well or better than they. Their greatest contribution to Job’s sorrow was the trio’s silence and presence; which quickly gave way to advice and accusation. Some people need to learn the suave of shush. The writer of the book that bears his name (James) tells everyone they “must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.” We know the Holy Spirit led him to write this, but was the fact that he was the half-brother of Jesus might have helped formulate this recipe for success. How often would the younger brother of the son who never sinned hear, “Why can’t you be more like Jesus?” Honestly, I understand why it took a while for James to buy into the whole Messiah-thing. But when he did, he was in completely. He had learned growing up, both as a child and as a disciple, that listening, silence and humility were God-things. So whether it is Job, James or Julio, it is still the same. We ought to exercise self-control when it comes to drawing conclusions, self-restraint when it comes to guidance and self-discipline in the presence of life’s pains and problems. The wisest guy in all the land said it best—“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.” (Job 16:2; James 1:19; Proverbs 25:11) All verses quoted are from NASB—Updated Edition