God is Self-Existent and Self-Sufficient
Isaac Megbolugbe
September 24, 2025
Introduction
God is self-existent and self-sufficient, meaning He does not depend on anything or anyone for His existence or fulfillment. This understanding shapes the nature of how humans relate to God in terms of service, worship, and giving glory.
Nature of Serving and Worshiping God
– Serving for God: Believers serve for God, aiming to align with His purposes and give Him glory.
– Worship for God’s Glory: Worship is given to God to give Him glory.
God’s Self-Sufficiency
– God Needs Nothing: God does not need anything from humanity, including love, tithes, or other offerings.
– God Asks for Things for Others’ Sake and His Kingdom: God asks for things from believers for the sake of others and for the advancement of His Kingdom.
Purpose of Human Existence
– To Give God Glory: If humans exist, it is to give God glory.
– God Deserves Worship and Glory: God deserves worship and glory from His creation.
Conclusion
God’s self-existence and self-sufficiency highlight that He does not need anything from humans. Instead, God asks for things from believers for the benefit of others and His Kingdom. Human existence finds purpose in giving God glory.
Nature and Style of Serving Others: Serving for God
Believers are called to serve for God, aligning their actions with His purposes and ultimately giving Him glory. This approach to serving others is rooted in a desire to honor God and reflect His character.
Serving for God
– Aligning with God’s Purposes: Believers serve in ways that align with God’s purposes and plans.
– Giving God Glory: The ultimate aim of serving is to give God glory.
Characteristics of Serving Others in This Context
– Motivation: Serving is motivated by a desire to honor God and align with His will.
– Focus on God’s Glory: Actions are directed toward giving glory to God through service to others.
Implications for Believers
– Serving as an Act of Worship*l: Serving others can be an act of worship when done to give God glory.
– Reflecting God’s Character: Believers reflect God’s character through serving others in a manner that honors God.
Conclusion
Serving for God involves aligning with His purposes and aiming to give Him glory. This approach to serving others is a way for believers to honor God and reflect His character through their actions.
Nature and Style of Worship for God’s Glory
Worship is an act directed toward God with the purpose of giving Him glory. For worship to be acceptable to God, it must be done in truth and in spirit.
Key Aspects of Worship for God’s Glory
– Purpose of Worship: The primary purpose of worship is to give God glory.
– *In Truth and Spirit*: Worship must be in truth (reflecting God’s truth) and in spirit (sincere and heartfelt) to be acceptable to God.
Implications for Worship
– Sincerity and Truthfulness: Worshipers must approach God with sincerity and in accordance with truth.
– Giving God Glory: The focus of worship is on giving glory to God.
Nature of Acceptable Worship
– Acceptable to God: Worship that is in truth and spirit is acceptable to God.
– Reflecting God’s Character: True worship reflects an understanding of God’s character and gives Him the glory due.
Conclusion
Worship for God’s glory involves giving Him glory in a manner that is in truth and in spirit. This ensures that worship is acceptable to God and fulfills its purpose of glorifying Him.
Biblical Case for the Self-Existence of God
The Bible presents God as self-existent, meaning He exists independently and does not depend on anything or anyone for His existence. This attribute of God is foundational in biblical theology.
Biblical Indications of God’s Self-Existence
– God’s Declaration: In Exodus 3:14, God declares Himself as “I AM WHO I AM,” indicating His self-existence.
– Eternal Nature: The Bible portrays God as eternal, without beginning or end (Psalm 90:2).
Implications of God’s Self-Existence
– Independence: God’s self-existence means He is independent of all creation.
– Sovereignty: This attribute underscores God’s sovereignty over all things.
Biblical Support for God’s Self-Sufficiency
– Not Dependent on Humans: God does not need anything from humans (Acts 17:25).
– Source of All: God is the source of all life and existence (John 1:3).
Conclusion
The Bible teaches that God is self-existent, emphasizing His independence, sovereignty, and eternal nature. This understanding of God is foundational to biblical theology and impacts how believers relate to Him.
Biblical Case for the Self-Sufficiency of God
The Bible teaches that God is self-sufficient, meaning He does not need anything from His creation or from humans to exist or to be fulfilled. This attribute highlights God’s independence and sovereignty.
Biblical Indications of God’s Self-Sufficiency
– God Needs Nothing: Acts 17:25 states that God is not served by human hands as if He needed anything.
– Creator and Source: God is the Creator of all things and is the source of all existence (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 104:24).
Implications of God’s Self-Sufficiency
– Independence from Creation: God’s self-sufficiency means He is independent of His creation.
– Sovereign Over All: This underscores God’s sovereignty and authority over all things.
Biblical Examples and Teachings
– God’s Provision and Care: While God is self-sufficient, He provides for and cares for His creation (Matthew 6:25-30).
– Focus on God’s Glory: God’s actions are ultimately for His glory (Isaiah 43:7).
Conclusion
The Bible presents God as self-sufficient, needing nothing from humans or creation. This self-sufficiency highlights God’s sovereignty and independence while also framing His relationship with creation in terms of His provision and pursuit of Him.
Purpose of Human Existence
The purpose of human existence is closely tied to giving glory to God. According to biblical teachings, humans are created to give glory to God, and God deserves worship and glory from His creation.
Purpose: To Give God Glory
– Giving God Glory: If humans exist, it is to give God glory.
– Ultimate Aim: Giving glory to God can be seen as the ultimate aim of human existence.
God Deserves Worship and Glory
– God’s Right to Glory: God deserves worship and glory from His creation.
– Worship as Response: Worship is a natural response to God’s worthiness and greatness.
Implications for Human Life
– Living for God’s Glory: Living in a way that gives God glory involves aligning one’s life with God’s purposes.
– Reflecting God’s Character: Humans reflect God’s character and give Him glory through their actions and worship.
Conclusion
The purpose of human existence is tied to giving God glory. God deserves worship and glory from His creation. Understanding this purpose can shape how humans live and relate to God.
Benchmarks for Assessing the Fulfillment of the Purposes for Human Existence in the Life of the Believer
Assessing the fulfillment of the purposes for human existence in a believer’s life involves considering how well they align with God’s purposes and give God glory. Benchmarks for this assessment can include aspects of a believer’s relationship with God, their actions, and their focus on God’s glory.
Benchmarks for Fulfillment
– Alignment with God’s Purposes: How well does the believer align their life with God’s purposes?
– Giving God Glory: Does the believer’s life give glory to God through their actions, words, and worship?
– Relationship with God: The quality of the believer’s relationship with God can indicate fulfillment of purpose.
Aspects to Consider
– Obedience to God: Obedience to God’s commands reflects alignment with His purposes.
– Worship and Praise: Engaging in worship and praise gives God glory.
– Living for God’s Glory: Intentionally living for God’s glory in all aspects of life.
Implications for Believers
– Self-Assessment: Believers can assess their lives against these benchmarks to gauge fulfillment of purpose.
– Growth in Purpose: Striving to align more closely with God’s purposes leads to growth in fulfilling the purpose of human existence.
Conclusion
Benchmarks for assessing the fulfillment of the purposes for human existence in a believer’s life include alignment with God’s purposes, giving God glory, and the quality of their relationship with God. Considering these aspects helps believers evaluate and grow in their fulfillment of purpose.
Concluding Remark
Constructive Engagement between God and Believers
In light of God’s nature as self-existent and self-sufficient, and considering the purpose of human existence to give God glory, constructive engagement between God and believers is vital. This engagement involves believers aligning their lives with God’s purposes, worshiping Him in truth and spirit, and living in a way that gives God glory. Through this engagement, believers find fulfillment of their existence and experience redemption in relationship with God.
Isaac Megbolugbe, Director of GIVA Ministries International, retired professor at Johns Hopkins University, 2024 Marquis Organization’s Class of Top Executives in the United States of America and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He is resident in the United States of America
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