When Job's friends heard of his catastrophe, they wanted to help him. By that time, the sores on Job's body had broken open, and his friends could hardly recognize him. They felt his pain and were shocked to see a friend in such great distress. They did not say a word for an entire week (if only they had kept on being silent!). But they sat there and listened.
His friends recognized an essential truth. People do not lose their intimacy when they stop talking, but they lose it when they stop listening. Leaders very rarely realize how much strength people draw from simply being listened to. The act of listening accomplishes what a great address or speech never can.
- Listening communicates the worth of the other person and their thoughts
- Listening communicates love and understanding for the other person's needs
- Listening communicates a desire for growth, learning, and remaining teachable
Job 2:11-13
Job's Three Friends
11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
Bible passage