Satan and Job’s friends all agreed that Job was a sinner at heart and that he obeyed God only because God blessed him. The fact that Job still trusted God after losing his children and his wealth should have proved to them that his faith was not “commercial.”
Eliphaz then took a new approach, asking whether Job’s righteousness did God any good. (Compare v. 2 with Job 21:15.) God is just and does what is right; therefore, He is not influenced by man’s good deeds. Eliphaz then named sins that Job must have committed (vv. 4–11), sins Job thought God could not see (vv. 12–20), sins God would forgive if Job would only repent (vv. 21–30). It was the same argument in a new dress, and Satan could not have done better.
Like any loving parent, our heavenly Father delights in the obedience of His children and finds pleasure in their worship, service, and growth. Whether you are rich or poor, healthy or sick, your highest joy ought to be to please Him (Ps. 40:8; John 8:29).
Pleasing God
We please the Lord by living holy lives (Col. 1:10; 1 Thess. 4:1ff.), being devoted fully to Him as soldiers (2 Tim. 2:4), living by faith (Heb. 11:5–6), giving generously (Phil. 4:18), obeying parents (Col. 3:20), and accepting and using our spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:18). The Father is well pleased with His Son (Matt. 3:17; 17:5), and when we seek to honor Him, we please the Father. God takes delight in the way of the believer who obeys His will (Ps. 37:23).
