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Romans 11:35
“Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?”
In yesterday’s study, we saw that Job is a good example for us of the attitude we should have in regard to God’s wisdom. In the verse before us today, Paul quotes from the book of Job itself as he continues to extol the greatness of God in comparison to human beings.
Like verse 34, this Old Testament quotation (Job 41:11) is something of a rhetorical question. The context of Paul’s hymn of praise tells us the answer is no. But it is certainly true that we give to God, through offerings of money, time, service, and so forth. So what is Paul saying here? The key to understanding this verse lies in the second phrase: ‘ “Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him.” ’ Simply put, the verse is asking whether anyone has ever given to God to such an extent that God was thereby placed in that person’s debt. When we consider the verse in this light, the answer is obviously negative. God is the great Giver, whose generosity to all of His creatures, both saved and unsaved, far, far outpaces their giving to Him. In fact, anything we have to give Him has come to us from Him, for He “has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3a). “We may give to God, as the people did when David appealed to them for offerings for the temple [1 Chron. 29],” Dr. James M. Boice writes. “But what we give is only what God has first given to us.”
Perhaps the deeper truth here is that God has no need of our gifts. He is entirely self-sufficient. He has no need for our money (He gave it to us) or for our service (His power is sufficient to accomplish all His ends, though He often chooses to work through people). Being entirely content and fulfilled in Himself, He does not require our affection or worship. There is no need in God that we can even begin to meet, much less cure so as to put Him in our debt. “ ‘Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?’ The answer is: No one, not even the most dedicated, most self-sacrificing, most consistent, most devout, most exemplary Christian,” Boice writes.
And yet, it is altogether right and good that we do give to Him, for giving is one way to express our love for Him. We cannot put God in our debt by giving to Him. But we must recognize that He has put us in His debt by all He has given us, and the realization of that truth should motivate us to give Him everything we have.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
What do you give to God? Do you give Him your best? Or does He receive only your leftovers of money, time, and talent? Take time today to prayerfully consider how deeply in debt you are to the God who has created and sustained you to this moment. Then think about changes you may need to make in order to give Him your very best.
For Further Study
- Psalm 37:4
- Psalm 85:12
- Matthew 5:42
- Matthew 13:12
- Romans 8:32
- 1 Timothy 6:17–18