The Sufficiency Of God

Job 22:2

Eliphaz raises the question, "Can a man be profit- able to God?" And the answer is a resounding, "No!" How can puny, finite man be or do anything that is profit- able to the infinite, all-sufficient God? SUFFICIENCY is an attribute of God's Being that needs to be under- stood and universally proclaimed. All-sufficiency im- plies self-sufficiency and independence. This attribute of the great and glorious God teaches us two things.

1. GOD NEEDS NOTHING FROM ANYONE. The self- existent God is the self-subsistent God. He is perfect, complete, happy and satisfied in himself. We can add nothing to him. And we can take nothing from him (Rom. 11:35-36). We stand in need of God. He alone supplies our every need and supports us in life. By him we consist. In him we live and move and have our being. He upholds us by the word of his power. But God needs nothing from us (Psa. 50:7-15). Our worship, services, acts of obedience and faith,and greatest sacrifices add nothing to God (Job 22:2-3; Lk.17:10).They only benefit us (Tit.3:8). And our sins,though they are against him, take nothing from God (Job 35:6-8).God is so infinitely great, so thoroughly self-sufficient that no creature can add anything to him, take anything from him, hinder his work, impede his purpose, or in any way alter him.

2. GOD IS ABLE TO SUPPLY ALL THE NEEDS OF ALL HIS PEOPLE (Phil. 4:19). He is able to do whatever he pleases. He is able to fulfil all of his promises. He is able to accomplish all of his decrees. And he is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think. Nothing is too hard for our God. He who sent manna from heaven to feed a hungry nation everyday for forty years can feed you with ease. He who caused water to gush out of a Rock in the desert can refresh you. He who caused a pair of shoes to last a man forty years and remain new, and caused a coat to last for forty years without the least evidence of wear can clothe you. He who caused an axe to swim for the benefit of a laboring man can keep you afloat. The name of our God is El Shaddai, God All-Sufficient! And he is the God of all grace. He gave his Son to be the all-sufficient Mediator of an all sufficient covenant to bestow upon us his all-sufficient grace. He makes all grace to abound toward us according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Don Fortner