September 9, 2025

Job 22: 2, 3 “Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise man benefit him? What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless?” (NIV)

The New Testament makes clear that God takes pleasure in us: we are “peculiar treasures,” a “pleasing aroma,” “gifts that he delights in.”*

Job's friend, Eliphaz, wants to know: is man worth anything to God? It’s an interesting question. Even if we were wise or righteous or blameless, what good are we to the Almighty? We know that God loves us but maybe he has to. Perhaps he can’t not love us. 

I don’t know the answer to Eliphaz’s question. Maybe we are no benefit to God. But we know that he delights in us because the Bible tells us that he does. We find that he delights in: 

· those who fear him (Psalm 147: 11) 

· those whose ways are blameless (Proverbs 11: 20) 

· men who are truthful (Proverbs 12: 22) 

We also find accounts of God’s unconditional delight. In II Samuel 22: 20 and Psalm 18: 19, David proclaims that the Lord rescued him - for no reason other than that he delighted in him. God also delights in his people – for no particular reason (Psalm 149: 4; Isaiah 5: 7; Isaiah 42: 1; Isaiah 65: 19) other than that he chooses to. We also find that there are benefits for us when we delight in the Lord (Psalm 37: 4). 

So, in answer to Eliphaz’s question, I would have to say, “I don’t know.” But if I had to choose, I believe I would rather be a delight than a benefit. God doesn’t love us for what’s in it for him. Ours is not a typical give-and-take relationship because God does all the giving and we do all the taking. Well . . . he delights in us, so what else can he do?

God alone knows what pleases God.*

September 8, 2025

II Corinthians 4: 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (NIV)

We never know in advance exactly how suffering can be transformed into a cause for celebration.*

I will always remember a certain trail in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. It was rugged terrain, and recent rains had left all the little ravines full of boot-sucking mud. I had new, expensive custom orthotics in my hiking shoes and I was frantic in my efforts to keep them from getting wet. We thought we were on a loop trail and that it would all be over soon - until we came to a sign announcing that we had reached the end of the trail. I did not react well to the news that I was going to have to go back the way I came.

When we finally reached level ground, I started booking it, so relieved was I to be able to just walk rather than scramble and slog. Yes, but level ground had also been subjected to rain, and a bare spot turned out to be slicker than ice. My feet went out from under me and I landed hard. This made me so angry that I threw my walking stick and said a bad word, shocking my husband (and myself). It took a few moments before I was able to get up, collect my stick, and set out again. . . And then we came upon this guy:

Now that trail was not exactly the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and our close encounter with nature may not have been such a thrill for anyone else; but our hikes were all about experiences like this. This one made it all worthwhile. If only I had known - before I had my little tantrum!

If I could turn back time . . . I wouldn’t. Because all those light and momentary troubles in life are just a part of the trail that I have to navigate before I reach the good stuff. And the good stuff on earth cannot compare to the eternal glory that lies ahead. Just watch your step!

He views your life the way you view a movie after you’ve read the book. . . . He’s not only read your story . . . he wrote it. His perspective is different, and his purpose is clear.*