He refuses to enter into a bidding war with Satan. He offers very different outcomes. Such fruit is largely found in the soul. We follow God's path, not because of the rewards, but because of a relationship of love. His gracious invitation is incomprehensible.
Research supports the vital role of love in parent-child relationships.
The best predictor of favorable child outcomes is parental love. A young child tugs on his daddy's pantleg and whines from the time the father gets home until the little boy goes to bed. Yet maybe his little boy is trying to tell his daddy that he is lonely, that he wants to be a part of his life, that he wants a relationship. Research shows that parents who respond promptly and sensitively to infant distress have children who cry less. That cannot be explained by rewards and punishment thinking.