Daily Devotionals

Discovering Christ Day by Day

Devotional: June 8th

Today’s Reading: Job 22-27

“Can man be profitable unto God?”

Job 22:2

Eliphaz raised the question, “Can a man be profitable unto God?” The answer is a resounding, “No!” How can puny, finite man be, or do anything that is profit- able to the infinite, all-sufficient God? Sufficiency is an attribute of God’s Being that needs to be understood and universally proclaimed. All-sufficiency implies self-sufficiency and independence. This attribute of the great and glorious God teaches us three things.

No Need

First, let us ever remember that God needs nothing from anyone. The self- existent God is the self-subsistent God. He is perfect, complete, happy, and satisfied in himself. We can add nothing to him. And we can take nothing from him (Romans 11:35-36). We stand in need of God. He alone supplies our every need and supports us in life. By him we consist. In him we live and move and have our being. He upholds us by the word of his power. But God needs nothing from us (Psalms 50:7-15). Our worship, services, acts of obedience and faith, and greatest sacrifices add nothing to God (Job 22:2-3; Luke 17:10).They only benefit us (Titus 3:8). And our sins, though they are against him, take nothing from God (Job 35:6-8). God is so infinitely great, so thoroughly self-sufficient that no creature can add anything to him, take anything from him, hinder his work, impede his purpose, or in any way alter him.

Able to Supply

Second, the Lord God is able to supply all the needs of all his people (Philippians 4:19). He is able to do whatever he pleases. He is able to fulfil all his promises. He is able to accomplish all his decrees. And he is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think. Nothing is too hard for our God! He who sent manna from heaven to feed a hungry nation everyday for forty years can feed you and me with ease. He who caused water to gush out of a Rock in the desert can refresh us. He who caused a pair of shoes to last a man forty years and remain new, and caused a coat to last for forty years without the least evidence of wear, can clothe us. He who caused an axe to swim for the benefit of a laboring man can keep you and me afloat. The name of our God is El Shaddai, God All-Sufficient! And he is the God of all grace. He gave his Son to be the all-sufficient Mediator of an all sufficient covenant to bestow upon us his all-sufficient grace. He makes all grace to abound toward us according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Self-righteousness a Delusion

Third, God’s infinite self-sufficiency teaches us that every thought of self-righteousness in man is a delusion. How can man be profitable to God? That is a question which never can be sounded too often, nor too loudly through the chambers of every self-righteous man’s heart. Indeed, it is astonishing that any man’s heart could ever be snared by this delusion. Yet, all men by nature choose to embrace it and delude themselves with it. The glories of God in creation, in redemption, and in the salvation of innumerable souls, by his wondrous mercy, love, and grace in his dear Son, all manifest God’s greatness, graciousness, and goodness.

But what profit is brought to my God in the salvation of such a sinner as I am? Oh, precious Lord Jesus, give me grace to rightly value your everlasting love and infinite grace. Cause me ever to lay low in the dust before you, and be content to be nothing. I am worse than nothing! I am ruined, lost, and undone in myself. That I would forever be were it not for your righteousness, by which I am made the righteousness of God in you! It is in and by your complete and free salvation that I am now, and from eternity, and forever accepted. Yes, you, my dear Redeemer and Lord, are my All! — “Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord!” Amen.