52 Weeks of ForwardSample

God Doesn't Need You

By Pastor Jan Vän Oosten

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else." ACTS 17:24-25 (NIV)

Let’s face it; most Christians want to know that God cares about our challenges. The Bible says that Jesus can “empathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15). When He was on earth, Jesus went through all kinds of difficulties, so He “gets it.” However, we need to be careful not to think of God as a bigger, faster, smarter one of us. God is not a Marvel superhero like Thor.

Theologians have an odd word to describe something amazing about God: “aseity.” Webster’s Dictionary defines “aseity” as God’s “absolute self-sufficiency, independence, and autonomy.” In short, this means God is not dependent on anything or anybody. He is entirely self-sufficient and has absolutely no needs at all. In contrast, we have lots of needs. We need food, shelter, warmth, and, of course, we need love. God has no requirements, and we cannot do anything for Him that He cannot do Himself.

His autonomy raises the question: Why did God create us if He doesn’t need us? Are you ready for the answer? Here it is: God created the universe, and all of us, out of His abundant, overflowing love. Great Christian thinkers like Augustine and Aquinas pointed out that our existence is a powerful message of God’s love. The fact that you are alive right now means that God loves you. He brought you into existence.

So, yes, God doesn’t need you. It is silly to think He does. Yet, your existence is a loud message telling you that God loves and cares about you. And beyond that, the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, sympathizes with you through tough times.

MOVING FORWARD

Begin today to see yourself as truly loved by God. Don’t let life’s challenges and difficulties get you down. Know that God’s love comes to us expressed through Jesus, who truly “gets it” and can help you. Turn to Him for help and guidance.