September 18, 2024 Daily Dose of Discernment

After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)

When we're going through a difficult time, we tend to be irritable and argumentative, and to look for someone to blame, maybe in frustration and an intense desire to be delivered from it. And we'd pursue our own relief before being concerned with the good of others, especially if they are the cause of our misery. Job, being honorable, is different. He prayed for his counterproductive friends when he was in such a state. And that was when the fortunes he lost were not only restored but doubled, not when he was trying to prove he was blameless.

Love always seeks the good of others. Greater love prioritizes that over self and willingly pays a price to obtain it. As a result, our miseries may go away and our fortunes may be restored twofold like Job. Or not. Just the same, if we find the joy of reaching out to our neighbor in love, we may find that that in itself is a reward that is just as good, if not better and more fulfilling.