Good Deeds

If you are good, is this some great gift to him? What could you possibly give him? No, your sins affect only people like yourself, and your good deeds also affect only humans. [Job 35.7-8]

Knowing the rest of the story, and that Elihu is not included with those God instructs Job to pray for in the end for their foolish talk, I think it is worth considering what this one man said! Evidently, Elihu was more accurate in his responses to Job than the other three friends for whom Job's prayer was necessary because they had falsely represented God.

Although what Elihu said in the passage cited above is not addressing any specific wrongdoing in Job, it is addressing the morality of a broad spectrum of humanity. Elihu's observation was correct - both our sins and good deeds affect only people - not God. By "affect" I think it is understood to mean "to alter existence" in some way good or bad (obviously God is pleased or displeased by the actions of men, but those actions in no way whatsoever alter God's existence. However, it is also worth pointing out that "Faith" is said to be the only way to please God in the New Testament)

I want to point out that sins affect us as well as others (we may privately covet the property of another man affecting only ourselves or we may take the property of another man affecting that other man - both are sins). However, our good deeds will only affect others. 

Good deeds done unto ourselves are not good deeds at all but self-preservation. As good as the deeds may be that we do unto ourselves, they may in fact be sin simply by virtue of the fact that selfishness may have been the motivation. It is also highly possible that a good deed done unto another for no other reason but for self-acclaim or some reciprocal benefit is also disqualified as a good deed but instead is seen as sin.

True good deeds have no strings attached and therefore qualify as pleasing God because of the faith required in "giving" the good deed with no predisposition for "getting back". Remember, without faith, it is impossible to please God.

So, while this little process of ideas sheds no real light on the story of Job, it does offer food for thought for our daily living!

Father, I know I will not please You without faith. Help me to remain mindful that You have promised to care for my needs if only I will seek Your Kingdom first. Likewise, help me remember that Your Kingdom is about people and that my greatest testimony of faith to You and people is selfless good deeds toward them.