“Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, doth Job fear God for nought” – Job 1:9(KJV).
Satan is the accuser of the brethren. He accuses the believers before God and he comes to the brethren to accuse God before them. His intention is to sow seed of discord between God and his children to cause disaffection and distrust. He paints God black before the people and paints the people black before God. “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night” – Revelation 12:10(KJV).
Our text shows Satan indicting God of using incentives to lure people into following him. He insinuates that other things being equal, people will have nothing to do with God. That people will not love God for who he is. That there is no appealing quality in God that will make anyone to commit to him or serve him. That God is aware of this fact so He has to give people incentives in order to win their love and service. That if man had everything without God’s help he will not need God or love him; that if God takes back his blessings – spiritual, financial, material, marital and otherwise – man will stop loving and fearing him.
This is first an indictment on God’s character and integrity. The insinuation that God has to appease man or give man incentives to gain man’s love, fear and respect is a line from the devil. He insinuates that God is not worthy of man’s love and commitment. It is also an indictment on man’s character and integrity. Satan insinuates that man’s love and commitment to God is not genuine but selfish. That man’s love is not pure but lust for material things and other blessings.
God had to show, not just to Satan but to all people of all ages, that He is worthy to be loved and feared; that His love, blessings and care are not for sale; that He has no need to appease man to love or serve him because He is secured in himself; that He desires man to love him for who He is and not for what He gives.
Man, on his own part had to prove to God and to the devil that his devotion and love for God are not for sale; that His love and commitment to God is not dependent on what he can get from God; that He loves God for who He is and not for what He gives; that He does not need incentives to love, fear or serve God. Job proved this beyond doubt that his God is worthy by himself and that his love for God is sincere and genuine. We will love God in season and out of season.
PRAYER: Father, help me to prove Satan a big fat liar by lavishing sincere and genuine love on you.
Rev. Vincent Diolu