Article September 27, 1999 Issue

Are people your problem?

By Thomas O. Poyser

Well, are people your problem? Possibly, if you're like most of us—or like the strange-looking creature we saw running along the shoulder of a highway. When we caught up with it, we saw it was a turkey. And it was Thanksgiving Day! The unhappy creature was apparently trying to put as much distance as possible between itself and people. That isn't always easy for turkeys—or for people. After all, there are almost seven billion of us today—people, that is—dwelling ever more closely on this planet of ours.

Sometimes friends, relatives, co-workers, or an employer can seem like more trouble than help to us. Instead of being friendly, supportive, pulling us up, their criticism or domination just adds to the problem. (And we can't just run away like the turkey.) But the Bible story of Job offers a helpful example for dealing with situations of this nature.

Job had lost his health, his family, everything he valued. He had some friends, however, if you can call them that. All they seemed interested in was criticizing and condemning the miserable man. This was of little help to Job, suffering as he was. Finally in desperation, Job protested: "No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you" (Job 12:2, 3). Undeterred, his tormentors continued.

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