If indeed we may attribute Job’s wife’s utterance to the inspiration of God Himself, let us look first at how the statement may be interpreted as it concerns only Job, The first part of her statement is, “how long doest thou retain thine integrity?” Here then is exposed the idol that Job held on to, which was alluded to earlier. Of all the things Job possessed in his life, this was the most important to him, even taking a higher position than that of God. The one thing that Job would not let go of in the face of his trials was his own sense of self-righteousness and personal integrity. It was of more value to him than his material possessions, health, even his children, and it was more important than God’s honor.

Job 27:5 (Job speaking) God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

Job 40:8 (the Lord speaking) Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Integrity: the quality or state of being of sound moral principle; uprightness, honesty, and sincerity. [1]

Now, we are not condemning Job for his integrity. Indeed, the Lord had commended him for it in His rebuttal to Satan. However, we must point out that the Lord qualified His estimation of Job by the words “there is none like him in the earth,” and that he was “a perfect and an upright man.” Job’s integrity was indeed commendable when compared to other men, but as far as his standing with God, “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” What Job did not see, was that all human merit must be forsaken in God’s presence, for man’s righteousness has no value before Him. As men, we perceive our own goodness on the basis of how we compare with other men, and we assume that God does also. However, if we could make a scale upon which we measured all of humanity, with number one being the absolute worst a man could be and ten-thousand being the perfect man, even the God man, Jesus Christ, we might gauge ordinary men to be around six hundred. We might then account the worst of men that this world has seen, the Stalins, Hitlers, Jezebels, serial killers, and other deviants at around two hundred. Then we might measure on our scale the more godly men, the Gandis, Mother Teresas, Daniels, and Job, to be around nine hundred. Now, we know that our imaginary scale does not exist; that there is no depth to how bad a man can be and there is no measuring of how perfect and holy Jesus is. Our point is that the difference between the best and worst of men is not really that great. Every man has the potential to be another devil; and no man could ever measure up to the righteousness of Christ by his own works or goodness—which is the measure we must attain to stand before God.

Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

2 Cor 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

Just as Abraham, who was a friend of God, the father of the faithful, and perhaps the most prominent human figure in the Bible, had works that he might glory in before men,  he could not glory in them “before God.” The Jews, like Paul the Apostle, could boast that “touching the righteousness which is in the law,” they were “blameless.” Meaning they had kept the outward demands of the Mosaic Law, but yet they had not “submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

Rom 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Job was persuaded that if his integrity were weighed in the presence of God, he would be judged righteous. He was like many others who believe, that if their good works outweigh their bad, God will accept them. Instead of Job humbling himself before God and asking for grace and mercy, he presents his works as the basis upon which he should be accepted; and it is his integrity which was the unscriptural basis of his standing with God.

Job 31:6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

We also may say that because the basis of his relationship with God was flawed, Job did not know God in a truly intimate way, but had only “heard of Him.” Many have made the mistake of believing that Job already had a personal relationship with God, but that is not indicated until the end of the book when finally he says, “now mine eye seeth thee.” 

Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

Job’s trust in his integrity skewed the significance of the animal sacrifices he made continually. These sacrifices were only given as a ritual that had been handed down to him. He may have seen them as a sort of cleansing for the minor mistakes he made in his life—as do the Jews—but certainly not as the substitutionary sacrifice that pictured the offering of Christ. This may be seen in the ritualistic offerings he made for his children. Job could no more make atonement for them than those today who believe in baptizing their infant children, or those who make prayers for the dead, or those who, by the lighting of candles and the giving of money, hope to get the lost souls of their loved ones out of purgatory. Every soul must come to the knowledge of his or her own sin and personally bring the offering that God has demanded. 

Job 1:4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Eze 14:12 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,
13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:
16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.
17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.
19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:
20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Job’s trust in his integrity may have caused him to believe that his relationship with God extended even to his children. However, even if Job was following the practice of offering animal sacrifices as God had performed for the first couple, these were not efficacious for his children. We find in the Scriptures from Adam’s example that he did not offer sacrifices for his grown children — we are told that they brought their own sacrifices to God.

Gen 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Gen 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

* * * * *

There are undoubtedly many like me who, because they have been raised in a home where the teachings of the Bible were revered and church attendance was practiced, errantly thought that they were a Christian because that is what their parents were. Before being brought to Christ, I firmly believed that Jesus died for the sins of the world. However, it was not until I saw Jesus dying on the cross for me personally that I had the affirmation that I was truly saved. Salvation is personal between the believer and God, and no one else has any part in that experience. God has no grandchildren who come into His Kingdom on the basis of their parent’s relationship with Him. Some may be instruments that God uses to bring their children to Him through their teaching, witnessing, godly living, and praying—but that is all they can do. Job may have been a godly example to his children as they witnessed his faithfulness in all of his works and sacrifices, but those things did not avail them in any way.

Eze 14:20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

* * * * *

In conclusion, Job had no real understanding of how a man might come before God. That for him to enter into an intimate relationship with God he could bring nothing of himself, but only that which God Himself had supplied for him to bring. For Job to receive by grace what God had for him, he must give up every vanity he had about himself, every conception he had of his own good works and righteousness. Even exemplar human qualities like integrity, honesty, and selflessness, are too polluted to bring before God; and cannot be the basis, either in whole or in part, of our relationship with Him. Job was holding on to qualities that are very admirable indeed among men. He is even given recognition in the Scripture for his good works. In like manner, there are many examples of godly men and women throughout the Bible, and we are all admonished to follow them in their faith and practice; but we are never taught that what these men or women did had anything to do with their salvation.

Job 9:1 Then Job answered and said,
2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Phil 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Paul the Apostle)
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

The real questions to be pondered might be whether the deeds of these men and women brought them into favor and relationship with God, or were they a result of the prior working of God in their lives; did their works flow from the wellspring of grace that God had already showed toward them? Likewise, did God’s providential working in Job’s life, from the time of his birth until the time of this account, not have something to do with Job’s character? What made Job different than other men? Was he born less of a sinner; or did he grow up with a personal desire to serve and please God that emanated from within himself? What makes the difference between some savage born in a dark continent who worships idols and is driven to kill other humans, and a person who is born in a Christian country and home, who has had all the benefits of hearing the gospel, and has been taught respect for the True God and human life? Has it been our choice where we would be born, or who are parents would be, or what would be the circumstances of our lives that may have brought us to God, while others live all their lives in the darkness of sin? Paul the Apostle said of himself, “by the grace of God I am what I am,” and that included all that God had done in his life prior to salvation as well. He wrote to the Philippian church that “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” It is God’s grace alone which makes our lives to “differ from another”; and to all of us it can be asked, “what hast thou that thou didst not receive?”

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

1Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Phil 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

1Cor 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Job’s false idea of his personal worth and righteousness before God was the offspring of the fleshly vanities of which we are all subject. His own misconceptions about himself had also affected his human relationships and attitude toward others. Job enjoyed the respect and admiration of those he ministered to, and he took a certain pride in his benevolence. The flesh does enjoy some of the benefits of God’s blessings and will use them for its own glory. When Job describes his past life and the blessings which he enjoyed, he displays a certain headiness about himself, or at least at lack of humbleness in recognizing his own poverty apart from God’s blessings. He takes upon himself some of the glory which should be reserved for God alone, because he attributes these blessings to his own self-worth and integrity before God. Likewise, we must guard against religious pride, the desire to be looked up to because of our religious piety or because we are a minister of God. We often fall into the trap of worshipping God’s blessings more than God Himself, and using these blessings for our own adornment.

Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Job 29:1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

Isa 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

When the Lord Jesus walked among men He was all too aware of this spiritual arrogance that was displayed by the religious leaders of His day. The priests, rabbis, and scribes had no genuine concern for the needs of others, but only their own self-glory. They may have put on an outward show of piety or godliness, but in their hearts they had no real love or compassion for others. The positions they held were meant to be used for serving others, but they used them for their own honor and fleshly benefits.

Matt 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

Matt 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

The Book of Joshua gives us an account of the fearful consequences of taking the glory that belongs to God alone. After the defeat of Jericho, the men of Israel attacked a relatively small city called Ai. It would have been an easy victory for them except for the sin of one man, Achan. When Jericho was defeated, all of the silver and gold was to be consecrated for God’s glory and everything else destroyed. Achan however, coveted a “goodly Babylonish garment” and took some of the silver and gold. Now Babylon is noted in Scripture for its spiritual idolatry, its created positions of religious power, and the pride of its false priests and leaders. Achan’s sin was to take some of the glory reserved for God alone, the silver and gold, and to cover himself with this garment of vain spirituality. The result of his sin was that Israel lost the battle of Ai; but Achan’s sin was not hid from God and was soon discovered by Joshua. In the end, everything he had was accursed and destroyed, even his family.

Josh 6:18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.

Josh 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.
2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.

Josh 7:10 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

Josh 7:19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

Josh 7:24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

Human integrity is, in itself, an honorable thing among men, and something to strive for; but it should never be used in trying to justify one’s self before God or used as a bargaining chip with God. The works of the flesh are not of faith and “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Everything we do as the fallen sons of Adam is tainted by sin. The best of men are sinners and the best works of men are sin tainted works. To come into God’s presence bearing these unclean gifts and sacrifices is an abomination to God.

Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin

Isa 1:11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Most of us, as Job, have heard about the True and Living God; but we also have been corrupted with much misinformation, false teachings, and trite religious sayings that give us a false concept about this God and about how one is judged righteous before Him. Many of us, as Job, have no idea of how sinful and wicked even the best of people are— especially when seen in the light of God’s presence. However, as believers, the more light that is given to us the more we begin to see and hate what we are, what we have done, and realize that any claims to goodness we thought we had are worthless. Paul said, “I count all things but loss… for Christ.” In another place he said “oh wretched man that I am.”

Phil 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Job, at the end of his trial, had become so repulsed by his own condition that he finally said, “I abhor myself,” and “behold, I am vile.” We too, when we begin to see ourselves, should be repulsed, ashamed, and left with a new fear of the awful holiness of God and of our own state before him. Seeing our sin as He sees it, we should cry out, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Job 40:3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Now in summary, how does this statement by Job’s wife translate to those upon whom the ends of the world are come, to whom the Gospel of the Grace of God has been revealed? It is actually much more understandable and applicable in the light of New Testament Scripture. First, as believers in Christ, what are we holding fast to? For Job it was his integrity, and many believers still grasp onto some form of good works as their merit or standing with God. Are we faithful in church? Do we give money to the Lord’s work? Are we Sunday School teachers, deacons, or elders? Do we read the Bible and pray regularly? Are we witnesses and try to get others under the Word? Are we a good husband, wife, dad, mother, and neighbor? Are we trying to keep the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule? These things are great and wonderful in themselves, and we should thank God for all of our good habits and the deeds He enables us to do. We should keep on being the best person we can be by the grace of God. However, let us not bring these things as an offering to God or try to use them as bargaining power to obtain His favor, because as such, these things hold no value.

Even if we are true children of God, saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, the old man of sin still dwells within our flesh; and he will still try to present some form of personal goodness to God as a means of getting God to do something for us. We may think that God will answer a prayer, give us something we really want, bless us, or somehow show that we truly are something special to God because of what we do. We may believe we have God’s ear, deserve special treatment and consideration, or that we are the apple of His eye because we are such a good Christian. However, none of these things add anything to what we have in Christ. Furthermore, it is only by the grace of God that we are enabled to do good things in the first place—“it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” How then can we present these good things back to God as though they originated from within us or we produced them by our own works? How can we believe that they are something of value to God or a benefit to God and that He should trade us His blessings for doing them?

Phil 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

1 Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

No matter how clear our perception of grace may be, the proclivity of our flesh is to think that there is something in us that still counts with God. In times of good health, prosperity, and personal blessings, we somehow think that what we have done or how we have lived has something to do with God’s blessings. In times of suffering and trial we tend to bring up these good things before God as a means of challenging His goodness for allowing our troubles to happen. We want to argue with God on the basis of our merit and even infer that God is being unjust toward us. However, we must carry nothing into God’s presence but our faith in His Son—not our good things which we have done, not even our guilt or self-condemnation. Christ has given us His righteousness and His blood has cleansed away our sins, and He is all we need. God is now our Father who desires to “freely give us all things.” How do we dare think that the blood of Christ is not sufficient; or that we need some trinket of our own good works to offer to God in addition to His Son for the blessings which we seek? As said the early saint, Toplady, “Nothing in my hands I bring, but to thy cross I cling.[2]”

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Whatever good we may think we possess in our character must be given up in the presence of God. We must stand in Christ and Christ alone, adding nothing to the righteousness we have in Him. Whenever we view our relationship with God on the basis of our character and good works, we will not see the smiling face of God, but rather a frown; because what we do is never good enough to please Him. Whatever we are holding fast to, let us release our grasp and let it go; lest God in His mercy, as He did to Job, pry our fingers loose of it that we may simply “be partakers of His Holiness.”

Gen 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to your Cross I cling;
Naked, come to you for dress; Helpless, look to you for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die.[3]