“Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit?
Job 22:2-3 NET
Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable?
Is it of any special benefit to the Almighty
that you should be righteous,
or is it any gain to him
you make your ways blameless?
Does God need me? Do I offer any value to him? Is God any better off by my existence or worse off if I did not exist? My human ego would like to think that I am of benefit to God. But Eliphaz’s words here offer a sobering estimate of the benefit I offer to God. None!
What possible lack could an omniscient, omnipotent, eternal, self-existent, triune God have that we could possibly fill? What good thing(s) could I do that would in any way enhance who he is? Or what sin(s) could I commit that would cause him any harm?
If this creation, and especially humanity, meets no need that God has, then why did he create us? The alternative to creating for his own benefit would be to create for our benefit. It is hard to grasp why he would create for the benefit of something that did not yet exist; and did not need to exist. Yet what alternative is there?
There is so much I do not yet understand about God and why he created me. And probably never will this side of eternity. But what I do know is that he loves me. Not because of who I am. But because of who he is. And he is preparing me for something much greater—an eternal future with him in glory.
And this is not just for me. God’s offer of eternal life is open to all who will submit to the Lordship of Jesus and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
God created us for our benefit. A benefit that is most fully realized in the life to come. But that benefit is only experienced by those who surrender their lives to the transforming power of the one who made us and loves us.
