Bad luck or what?

by Dave Jackson

If I'd believed in luck, Bob and Sara's had sure run out. Like so many others, their new business was undercapitalized. When one of their first big clients couldn't pay, Bob faced a $4,000 cash flow problem. Unfortunately, work for that client had consumed the time he should have used to solicit others. That was December, and 60 to 70-hour work weeks were not pulling the fat out of the fire.

Then, one January night, I was awakened by a phone call saying the building housing Bob's business was on fire. I went and stood with him in the icy streets for a couple hours as the firemen brought the blaze under control. Bob's office was saved, but there was smoke damage, and the work was seriously interrupted.

New clients started to come, but then Bob and Sara had a car accident, a hassle with repairs, and cycles of family illness.

What did that say about Bob and Sara? Were they out of God's will, needing to learn something?

Frankly, I don't know. When I thought of something helpful to say, I said it. But it was also very tempting to suggest (as Job's friends did) that maybe some hidden sin was the cause.

Matthew 18:15-17, Galatians 6:1 and other Scriptures instruct us how to confront sin in others. But they talk of specific, obvious sins--not fishing expeditions.

It's true that each of us should periodically search our heart to ask whether God is trying to speak to us (Psalm 139:23,24). Times of trouble may be His way of getting our attention. But that exercise must be conducted between the individual and God. Harm was done by Job's friends because they were fishing in somebody else's life.

However, before we are too hard on Job's friends, let's remember that "they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was" (Job 2:13). When I learn how to empathize with people that well, it may cover some of my need to find "the cause".