“Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
Eliphaz opens the third round of the debate. He begins not with comfort but with a question: does human goodness add anything to God? The question sounds reverent, and in one sense it is true. But Eliphaz uses it to turn a truth about God into a charge against a suffering man.
The Force of the Question
Eliphaz presses the gap between God's fullness and anything a creature could add to it. A wise man's wisdom benefits himself; it does not enrich God.
Samuel RidoutIn this first part Eliphaz dwells on God's infinite greatness and on how He is complete in Himself. Is man profitable to God? Does he add anything to the infinite fullness of the Creator? A wise man is profitable to himself, but God does not depend on him in any way. A man's righteousness brings God no special profit — the word is "profit," not "pleasure," for He does take pleasure in His saints. As the One who emptied Himself says, "My goodness does not extend to You" (Ps. 16:2).
The same point cuts at any idea that obedience puts God in our debt.
Leslie M. GrantCertainly it is folly for anyone to think that he is doing God a favour by his righteousness, for to be perfectly right is nothing more than he should be. But in Eliphaz speaking to Job, this was beside the point, for he considered that Job was wicked, not righteous.
The Conclusion Eliphaz Draws
The argument is a trap. If God gains nothing from a righteous man, He has no reason to strike one. So Job's suffering must expose hidden sin.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinHe starts by reminding Job of God's majesty. Can then a man be profitable to God? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty when you are righteous? Or does He gain anything by it if you are perfect in your ways? So God has no interest in man's righteousness, and He cannot punish Job for his righteousness. From this he concludes that Job is a great sinner.
But the test proves too much. If suffering proves sin, every sufferer stands condemned — "the righteous as well as the wicked," as Ridout notes in the same passage.
Not Profit, but Pleasure
Kelly answers Eliphaz directly. Godliness was never a business deal. Measuring it by profit misses what moves a godly man.
William KellyYes, Eliphaz, but cannot a man please God? It is not for profit that a pious man submits to God, and obeys the word of God, but it is to please Him, and why? Because he loves Him. That is not working for profit… "Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous?" Yes, it was. He was quite wrong about it. God was pleased with Job — that very man that they were so insidious against, and against whom they insinuated all kinds of evil.
A Cold View of God
Commentators differ on how much of Eliphaz's premise can stand. Ridout agrees that God needs nothing. But he rejects the picture of a God untouched by what His creatures do.
Samuel RidoutHas not God suffered, not in His blessed nature, but in what should have displayed it — righteousness in His creature? God created everything for His glory and pleasure. So God is the loser when man fails… We get only a cold view of God in Eliphaz's description of Him. The word of God shows the opposite. It presents Him as deeply concerned in all our affairs, and closely bound up with His creation. Eliphaz's one-sided statements leave no room for the gospel. God is not just holding the scales of justice as an uninvolved onlooker.
The Direction of the Profit
Kelly shows which way the benefit runs. God gains nothing, but the obedient man gains everything.
William KellySo he shows that the question is not whether man profits God, but how God profits man. God is owed our will, our love, and our glory. And beyond that, no one can walk in His ways without the richest reward of blessing. In every possible sense it is God who gives the increase… So the wickedness of man does not lower the majesty of God. It ruins the man who walks in it. In the same way, the obedience of man brings no profit to God. But it makes sure of very real and rich blessing for the man who is led that way.
Summary
- Premise. God needs nothing. No one can enrich the Creator, and being right is only what a creature owes anyway.
- Misuse. Eliphaz turns that truth into a weapon. God gains nothing from your goodness, he argues, so your suffering must expose hidden sin.
- Correction. God takes real pleasure in His people. He took pleasure in Job — the very man his friends were picking apart.
- Motive. Obedience is not trading for profit. A godly man obeys to please God, because he loves Him.
- Direction. The profit flows the other way. Man never enriches God, but no one walks in His ways without the richest reward of blessing.