And he (God) is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. Acts 17:25
God doesn’t need us. He is complete in himself. He didn’t create us because he was lacking something or needed servants to do jobs for him. God didn’t create us in order to have someone to worship him, serve him or make him happy. He is already happy and fulfilled. He has everything he needs. He created us out of his abundance not because of any shortfall.
Yet sometimes we act like we’re the ones doing him favours. We act as if he needs us to perform tasks for him. We credit ourselves with importance if we feel we have done something for God. Whereas the truth is we’re on the receiving end of his favours. It’s a privilege that he chooses to use us to bring in his kingdom. Serving and worshipping God is good for us. His commands are designed to make us more like Jesus and as we become more like Jesus, he blesses us.
As Wesley writes in his hymn, And can it be that I should gain, “Who can explore His strange design?” Why would God put himself in a position of such vulnerability? Why take the risk of creating people who will cause you so much pain and suffering? Perhaps for the same reason, we have children because although they are expensive and at times cause disappointment, they also bring us great joy when they voluntarily choose to love us.
God can handle the pain we cause. He has great reservoirs of love. He can redeem all our mistakes and turn them into something good (Romans 8:28). He considered us worth the risk.
