What does Job 35:3 reveal about human righteousness and its impact on God? Job 35:3 in the Berean Standard Bible “For you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’ ” God’s Self-Sufficiency Elihu’s argument rests on the doctrine of divine aseity. Acts 17:25 affirms, “He Himself gives to all men life and breath and everything else.” Because God is the uncreated Creator, nothing outside Himself can add to or diminish His essence. Psalm 16:2 agrees: “I have no good thing apart from You.” Therefore, human righteousness cannot increase God’s ontological perfection, nor can human sin reduce it. Human Righteousness: Relational, Not Utilitarian Job 35:3 does not diminish righteousness; it re-locates its effect. Elihu concludes two verses later: “Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself, and your righteousness, only a son of man” (v. 8). Righteousness blesses people and glorifies God in a declarative, not additive, sense. Isaiah 64:6 shows that self-derived righteousness is still “filthy rags,” whereas imputed righteousness (Romans 4:5–8) reconciles sinners to God without adding merit to God’s being. Cross-Canonical Witness • Job 22:2–3: “Can a man be of benefit to God? … What profit is it to Him if you make your ways blameless?” • Luke 17:10: Even obedient servants say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.” • Psalm 50:12: “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine.” These passages reinforce that God remains unchanged in essence, yet freely delights in righteousness (Proverbs 11:20). Christological Fulfillment While Job’s era predates the Incarnation, the canonical arc culminates in Christ, “who knew no sin but became sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Human righteousness that truly “profits” is therefore derivative—Christ’s righteousness credited to believers by faith. This satisfies God’s holiness and simultaneously benefits humanity with justification and adoption. Philosophical and Behavioral Implications Behavioral science confirms that altruistic, moral living correlates with human flourishing—lower stress markers, stronger communities. Scripture anticipated this: “Keep My statutes and live” (Leviticus 18:5). Morality is thus teleologically aligned with human design, evidencing intelligent design that embeds moral law for our good rather than for God’s need. Practical Application 1. Pursue righteousness not to enrich God but to align with His character and bless His image-bearers. 2. Reject a transactional view of morality; embrace a covenantal relationship where obedience is gratitude. 3. Rest in Christ’s finished work, the only righteousness that secures eternal profit—salvation. Summary Job 35:3 reveals that human righteousness does not profit God ontologically; He is eternally sufficient. Yet righteousness matters profoundly: it reflects God’s character, benefits humanity, and, in Christ, fulfills the only righteousness that reconciles sinners to their Creator. |
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