PHYSICIANS OF NO VALUE

Job 13:1-4 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

Based on the opinions and advice of his, so called, friends, Job refers to them as physicians of no value! In other words, their opinions and advice was worthless. Their advice, if followed, was even worse. I can think of very few individuals more worthless than inept, incapable physicians. Not only does a misdiagnosis result in failure to remedy an illness or disease, but taking prescriptions and following the advice of a misdiagnosis could result in the illness or disease becoming worse - even death could result.

In order to understand the plight of Job, it is necessary to start from the first chapter. As a lesson to the world, God allowed Job to be persecuted and punished by Satan to the extent of the loss of his lands, cattle and wealth; he even lost his wife, children and family; ultimately he even lost his health. Job's friends, Bildad, Zophar and Eliphaz told him that his persecution and punishment must have resulted from his sins, and that he should confess such sins and ask God's forgiveness. Job, convinced that he had not sinned against God, considered his friends as physicians of no value for the advice and opinions that they offered.

In Matthew 15:9, other people can be found that compare to the worthlessness and danger of physicians of no value. Teachers and preachers can also be of no value, if what they arepreaching and teaching is not according to the will of God. It would be worthless to the benefit of our souls. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. This text says that our worship is in vain if the commandments of men are substituted for God's commandments. There is a big difference between physicians and teachers and preachers. Placing your trust in worthless physicians can cause you to lose your health and even your physical life here on earth. Trusting in false teachers and preachers can cause you to lose your spiritual soul and miss spending eternity in heaven.

Proof that false teachers and preachers are prevalent in the Christian dispensation is found in1 Timothy 4:1-4. Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. As in the past, so it is in the present age - the world if filled with false preachers that fit some or all of the characteristics noted in this scripture. The apostle Paul told Timothy that such are seducing spirits ...doctrines of devils ...lies! Their teaching is worthless and withoutspiritual value.

Isaiah 29:13 tells us that false teachers and preachers were prevalent during Old Testament times. Even Jesus quotes this passage as a warning to Jews during the New Testament era. Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you saying, this people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (Mat. 15:7-9).

Paul, in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, warns us of the affect false teachers and preachers can have on our lives. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. False teachers and preachers pervert the gospel of Christ (Gal. 1:6-8), they profess contrary ...doctrine for their own gain (Rom. 16:17-18), they deny Jesus Christ as the Savior (2 Pet. 2:1), and with every wind of doctrine, they lie in wait to deceive mankind (Eph. 4:14).

Beware of physicians of no value. More importantly, beware of teachers and preachers of no value!