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The friends of Job believe his suffering was a result of his sins and defended God’s righteousness as they attempt to comfort Job, but maintain his integrity
Job continues in his discourse that though God has denied him justice and made his life bitter, yet his mouth will speak no evil or lies as long as he lives
Job would not accept that his friends are right about their suggestion that his evil deeds may have brought about his suffering
He insists that his conscience is clear and he will maintain his innocence, defending his integrity till he dies
Perhaps Job hopes that God will declare his friends wicked (my enemies) because of their slanderous words. He prayed that his enemy be punished
Job asked of the hope that people without God have, especially when it is time to die, even when they have troubles and cry for help, God will not listen
The second lesson narrates the Parable of the Shrewd Manager
When a rich man found out his manager had been cheating him, he requested a financial report, adding that he would be relieved of his duty
The manager knew securing a new and satisfying job would be difficult, so he intends to improve his relationship with his employer’s clients
He met with his company's debtors and offered them a huge discount on their debts, and altered the invoices
“Later, the master told the dishonest manager that he had done a smart thing.”
Now, Jesus built his teaching on this; if the world people are smarter in business with one another, spiritual people must be smart too
“Use worldly things you have now to make ‘friends’ for later, implying that worldly gains should not be used to satisfy the desires of this world; instead, they should be used for things that are of eternal value
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