The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Acts 17:24-25

God does not need you. God does not need missionaries, preachers, pastors, politicians, abolitionist, evangelist, artists or anyone. God is completely self-sufficient. Always the giver never the taker, God does not need anything from us.

What could you possibly do for God? He is the all unchanging, ever-present, everlasting, all knowing, all powerful God who is not bound by space and time. He is full of more love, grace, righteousness, holiness, wisdom, and glory than you or I could ever imagine. What can you do for God?

The reason why God has ordained missionaries, pastors, evangelists and all other offices of the church is to display His power, glory, and love in the use of weak sinners who he has redeemed by His grace. Paul says it best in 1 Timothy 1:15:

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

Again In Ephesians 1:

In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

We are called to God and are used by him so that he might display his power through us. It is not because we are “choice meat”. It is not because we bring anything to the table because in and of ourselves we offer nothing of value to God. Rather it is because of God’s grace and his glory that we are called to serve God. Therefore, if we are called by God’s grace for his glory than we ought to serve him in the manner he commands in his word.

It is the epitome of arrogance to presume we can do ministry according to our opinions. It is pompous to think we have to help God in reaching the culture. We assume God is somehow less wise, or less loving, or less powerful than our own opinions and programs. This is the result of foolishness. It is a practical form of deism.

God is sovereign. He reigns in power and might. He is the true and living God and those who serve him ought to do so with reverence. He has given us his word to instruct us in his service. We would be wise to abide by his word.

But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

2 Cor 4:2