Does Job Fear God for No Reason?

Imagine that you have an extremely wealthy friend. You are with him every day, praising him and always ready to help. Then someone asks: “Do you truly like that person, or do you only like the privileges and free meals he gives you?”

This is Satan’s accusation before God. Satan mocks the idea that Job is sincere; he is merely a “clever businessman” who knows that behaving “well” will bring abundant “blessings” from God.

Satan claims that God has placed a “hedge” around Job that always keeps him safe, healthy, and wealthy. According to Satan, the relationship is merely a transaction:

• Job gives “fear” (worship and obedience).
• In exchange, God gives protection and wealth.

Satan wagers that if the protection is removed, Job will stop worshiping God. He accuses Job’s faith of being a business contract rather than a bond of love.

This is the question for all of us: Do we love God because of who He is, or only because of what He can give us?

• Will we continue following Him when we lose our job?
• Will we continue trusting Him when our health declines?
• Is our relationship with God based on a contract (“I do X, You give Y”) or on a faithful promise (“I am Yours, whatever happens”)?

Our journey of faith may begin with the blessings we experience. Yet mature faith requires us to look beyond those blessings and decide to love God simply because He is God—for what He is.

“Lord, You are the Creator, and I am only Your creation. May my heart discover Your true beauty, so that I can say: Let Your will be done over my entire life.”