Made to Glorify God

God does not need us. He is complete and whole in every way without us. However, He chose to create us, and He created us to bring Himself glory.

Made to Glorify God

This week's devotions are written by my friend Jessica Hermann, former director of our college ministry at Great Hills Baptist Church.

- Pastor Danny

For those who do not already know, I am so thrilled to say that the Lord has blessed my husband and me with a little baby boy who will, Lord willing, be making his arrival in late May. Psalm 139:13 says, "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb." I always thought of this verse from the perspective of the one having been knit together in my mother's womb, and this is certainly the intention of the verse. However, in this season of pregnancy I am marveling at the reality that God is doing this amazing work of knitting someone together within my womb. What a holy and beautiful reality. As I have reflected on this, I have been thinking more and more about why we have been created. Since it is true that God is fully self-sufficient and fully content in and of Himself, why then would He create us? What are we created for? There are many reasons we could consider. This week we will discuss five.

The Westminster Catechism summarizes it this way:
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

This is a great summary of the purpose of mankind which very directly answers our question of, "Why has God made us?" Let us consider the first part today: We were created to glorify God.

As we already stated, God does not need us. He is complete and whole in every way without us. However, He chose to create us, and He created us to bring Himself glory. Now this sounds like it would be a very self-centered and even narcissistic thing to do, to create creatures simply for them to bring you glory... unless you really are the completely perfect, holy, eternal Lord of all. Then it makes perfect sense and is more than justified; it is good.

In Isaiah 43, the Lord speaks of His people by saying, "everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." The Lord has formed each of us, made us within our mother's womb, and made us for His glory. One component of this truth that is especially encouraging to me is that if we were created to glorify God, then this is an eternal calling. Many say they were created for a specific earthly calling, to be a doctor, a teacher, or an entrepreneur. These perspectives, while common, are certainly lacking. These purposes or reasons are temporary. You won't always live where you live, work where you work, or know who you know. What happens then if this "reason you were created" goes away? What if you can't work that job anymore? What is your purpose then?

There is great comfort in the fact that God created us to glorify Him and that is an eternal purpose. As His children, we will always exist to glorify Him, and we get to glorify Him, the only One who is worthy, forever. Not only that, but this purpose extends to all aspects of life and eternity. If you were "created to be a doctor," how does that purpose extend to time with your family? Or while on vacation? Are you without purpose during these times? The purpose of glorifying God can and ought to be lived out in every aspect of our lives: in our jobs, with our family and our neighbors, in our leisure, and beyond, so we are never without purpose. This means that no matter what season of life or situation or place you find yourself in, your purpose remains.

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:36)

Consider these questions today:

How can you glorify and bless the Lord through a particular area of your life today?
How does the eternal and all-encompassing nature of your purpose to glorify God encourage you?