When someone is suffering, we often feel compelled to offer advice. We want to comfort, help, or even seek answers to the suffering. However, is every advice we give always right and wise? This is what we can learn from the story of Eliphaz in Job 4:1-11.

Eliphaz was Job's friend from Teman, a city known as a center of wisdom. With good intentions, he tried to counsel Job who was suffering. He said that Job, who had previously encouraged others, now seemed to be wavering (Job 4:3-5). Eliphaz considered that Job's suffering was the result of his own sin (Job 4:7-8). This view seemed to make sense, as it was a common belief at that time that those who lived in wickedness would reap the consequences. Those who live righteously will be treated well, while those who do wrong will be chastised.

Eliphaz continued his advice by giving various arguments that he understood as wisdom. The punishment of those who misbehave before God is not causal but is executed by God. Therefore, retribution is inevitable. Although it may not be apparent in the near future, retribution is certain to occur in the long term and in this world. This was the doctrine that Eliphaz and his two friends held firmly. It should also be accepted and understood by Job in order to accept and understand his suffering. It is in that understanding that comfort will come.

But this is where Eliphaz erred, he applied this principle as an absolute law, without considering that there are sufferings that are not the result of personal sin. Job himself was righteous before God (Job 1:8), and his suffering was not a punishment from God. There can be suffering that is the result of human actions, but this was not the case with Job. So was Eliphaz's explanation enough to comfort Job? Of course not.

From this situation we learn that we should in our comforting of others who are suffering or struggling consider the situation they are in and not just based on our intentions and mindset. Often the comfort and understanding that we usually convey to them actually presents a lame situation. We as counselors are the superior party and are doing well, while those who are suffering are the inferior party and are not doing well. May we be enabled to sympathize with the suffering of others. Advice can have a good impact if it considers the situation and the voice of the one who is suffering.