Job 22:21 “Submit to God and be at peace with him;
    in this way prosperity will come to you.”

Some of the things that Eliphaz says are true and reasonable, but when you read through it all, you realize that his motivation is distorted. He is speaking to Job to get him to do things that will build Job up, rather than actually keeping the focus on our Creator. Some of the things that he says I want to say a hearty AMEN to, such as the point of letting God be our treasure, in verses 24-26, but the motivation is to get God to listen, to be spiritually powerful. We should desire to be spiritually powerful, but not for our own sake. Rather, we should seek to be available to God for Him to use us as He pleases. Many people seek spiritual power out of ambition. When Jesus’ disciples were delighted that demons obeyed them, Jesus said, “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20) When our motivation is personal power, we are off base. In the example above, Jesus too was delighted that His disciples were operating in Kingdom authority, but He was concerned that they would be enticed by the authority itself, rather than delighting in the Kingdom. That’s why He had told them, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33)

I have had fantasies and daydreams of operating so in tune with my Lord that everything I said happened, even as I was speaking. I too have trouble with motivation! Power can be very seductive. A secular proverb says, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” God does exercise His power through me, but if my focus is on the power rather than on Him, at the very least I lose the benefit, whatever else might happen. I have written recently about speaking for God, and that is certainly an exercise of His power. However, if I let myself get inflated as “God’s spokesperson,” then I am in deep trouble. I have learned the hard way that I am foolish and unreliable. It is only when I am fully committed and yielded to my Lord that His plans for me are fulfilled. I’ve got to remember that in the parable of the talents, the servant who started with five and the servant who started with three got exactly the same commendation. It wasn’t for what they did, but for their faithfulness. That is precisely what I want to hear when I stand before my Lord.

Father, thank You for this reminder. All sorts of things are going on. I want to do Your will and Yours alone, not for bragging rights but for Your pleasure and glory. I ask right now for the message for Sunday, so that Your sheep may be fed. May I be Your instrument in everything I do, whether it is “religious” or not. Thank You. Praise God!