God Is Like Us

Does God need us? Some people might wonder how could a sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient God need us? He doesn’t need us the way we need him. And he doesn’t need us in the ways we might imagine.

God doesn’t need us because he is lonely. He’s not depressed or lonely. In fact he’s not alone. The angels are with him and worship him.

God doesn’t need us to worship him. The rocks will cry out if we’re silent. All creation sings his praises. God is not a needy narcissist who created us because he craves worship.

God doesn’t need us in order to spread the gospel. He can and has used other means, even if those haven’t always seemed effective.

To announce the birth of his son God used spectacular effects. The host of heaven was revealed. The angels sang. The archangel spoke. Steven Spielberg would have been jealous. But the only ones who paid attention were a few shepherds. Some magi showed up, later, long after the night of the big event.

Some people might conclude then that God does need us. However, that would mean that he’s not omnipotent. And we know that’s not true. God is also sovereign. God doesn’t need us to accomplish his will.

He doesn’t need us, but he does want us.

He desires a relationship with us. Each of us. Yes, he’s interested in our group activities. But he’s even more interested in intimacy, in communion, with every individual.

God is not lonely, but he doesn’t want to be alone. He can use miracles to proclaim truth, but he uses us to reach people. He desires our adoration, but he doesn’t need our worship.

He needs us, but he’s not needy. He does, however, purposefully desire us.

I’m not sure why. Like King David, we seem to wonder, who are we, God, that you take note of us?

Perhaps the answer is found in the fact that he created us in his image. Because he did so, we are like him. And he is like us.

God needs us because he wants a family. He wants children. I understand that.

I have a daughter. I need her. That doesn’t mean I couldn’t live without her. It means I choose not to. She is the center of my universe. I’d do anything for her. I can’t stand to be away from her. I don’t like the times she’s away from me.

And in that way, God is like us.