Job 35:7

Elihu quotes Job's thoughts again, if not his exact words, and draws the right conclusion from them. He points out the monstrous deduction — "My righteousness is more than God's." Had not Job brought himself to just such a conclusion? "I have not sinned to deserve this treatment. My life is blameless before man and God. There is no reason for Him to afflict me except for obvious sins. So He is unjust!" It is good for us to face our conclusions, and to learn how foolish our reasoning is.

How careful we should be when we are tempted to complain! In effect we are saying that God is not treating us rightly. Job had questioned whether there was any advantage or profit in being righteous rather than sinning (v.3). He thought, "what is the use of being righteous if the results are not what I imagined they should be?"

He wants Job to look up into the very heavens he thought were against him, and to think about the character of One who is perfect beyond measure. God is untouched by the small doings of men on earth, who are like grasshoppers in His sight. How could such a One — holy beyond measure, and needing nothing outside Himself — treat a man unjustly? That man's conduct does affect himself and his fellow men, but it cannot reach those calm heights. This is only one side of the truth.

On the other hand, if one is righteous, does he think he is doing God a favour by this? (v.7). In being righteous, he is not doing more than he should. Why should he expect special recognition? So Elihu levels man's pride to the dust, whether pride in his own rebellious attitude, or pride in his righteous character. It is true enough that a man's actions, bad or good, may affect other people (v.8), but they do not influence God.

So he shows that the question is not whether man profits God, but whether God profits man. Besides what is due to Him — our will, our love, and glory — it is impossible for man to walk in His ways without the richest reward of blessing. In every possible sense it is God who gives the increase… So man's wickedness does not lower the majesty of God; it ruins the man who walks in it. And man's obedience brings no profit to God, but it secures very real and rich blessedness to the one who is led that way.

We have neither known His mind, nor had anything to do with His counsel, much less have been original givers to Him in order that He should thus be indebted to repay us. This has been Israel's folly, and that of how many more who would like to make themselves creditors of God, as though their good works and assumed righteousness were a claim upon Him! Well did Elihu demand of Job, "If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?"

Man would like to make God a receiver instead of a giver; but this cannot be… God can accept the smallest gift from a heart that has learned the deep truth in those words, "Of your own have we given you." But the moment a man dares to take the place of the "first" giver, God's reply is, "If I were hungry, I would not tell you"… Praise is all that we can offer to God, and we can only offer it when we know clearly that our sins are all put away.

Yet perfect goodness in man, if it could be found, brought nothing to God. It is only what God requires of man as His creature… The Son did not expect any reward from God for His goodness. He acknowledged that man ought to be perfect in heart and walk before God.