Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Caring for Souls: Being a Biblical Friend

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.  Job 2:11-13

A. The Mandates to be a Biblical Friend: Proverbs 18:24

1. All of us need to be ministered to by one another: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

2. All of us are called to minister to one another

a) By Christ’s command: John 13:34-35, Proverbs 17:17

b) By Christ’s example: John 15:12-14

B. The Heart Qualities to be in a Biblical Friend

1. Awareness of need: Job 2:11a, Luke 10:30-37

2. Initiative to meet need: Job 2:11b

C. Actions to be a Biblical Friend

1. Identify with the sufferer: Job 2:11-12, Gal. 6:2, John 20:19-21

2. Comfort the sufferer: Job 2:11, Gen. 50:15-21

D. The Sacrifices necessary to be a Biblical Friend

1. Be available: Job 2:11

2. Be inconvenienced: Job 2:13

3. Be a compassionate listener: Job 2:13, James 1:19