In our continuing examination of the snares afflicting the modern church, we have delved into various traps such as superficial unity, cultural appeasement, and the distortion of biblical convictions. As we arrive at Part X of this critical series, we uncover yet another snare that subtly undermines sound doctrine: the snare of self-importance. It manifests in the belief that God created us out of a longing or necessity to fulfill some relational need within Himself, a view that erroneously suggests a co-dependency between the Creator and His creation.

This co-dependency perspective represents a serious departure from the impregnable truth revealed in Scripture and the notion of such self-importance isn’t far detached from the insidious false property gospel itself. This view not only diminishes God’s self-sufficiency but cunningly elevates humanity to an unwarranted level of significance. Such a belief, woven into the fabric of church teaching, can cause us to lose sight of God’s grand purpose in creation, leading them instead to focus on their presumed importance in fulfilling God’s supposed needs.

It is this snare of self-importance, this belief in a divine-human co-dependency, that we must now scrutinize as it strikes at the very heart of our understanding of God, diverting our focus from His glory to our presumed necessity. This subtle yet pervasive misunderstanding holds significant implications for how we view ourselves in relation to God and how we engage in the worship and service that He alone deserves.

God, in His infinite majesty and eternal existence, is self-sufficient, lacking nothing. To suggest that the Almighty God, creator and sustainer of all things, needed to create mankind to fulfill a need within Himself is not merely incorrect—it’s a profound diminishment of God’s immutable nature. The divine Creator, who is wholly other and utterly independent of creation, is neither lonely nor incomplete, but rather in a perfect relationship with Himself in the Trinity.

In contrast to this fallacy, the Bible proclaims that God created humanity for the grand purpose of displaying His glory, reflecting all His attributes, His wisdom, His power, His grace, and His justice. The creation narrative in Genesis is not a tale of a God in want but a glorious unfolding of a Sovereign Creator who spoke galaxies into existence, crafted the earth, and fashioned man and woman in His image. From the divine decree of “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3) to the formation of Adam from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7), we observe a God who is wholly self-sufficient, independent of anything or anyone else.

The Psalmist captures this truth when he writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). In Job’s dialogues, we find the magnificent descriptions of God’s control over nature and the cosmos, confirming His sovereignty (Job 38–41). Likewise, in Isaiah 43:7, we learn that those called by God’s name were created for His glory. Paul’s letter to the Romans stresses this, saying, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever” (Romans 11:36).

This theme resonates throughout the entirety of Scripture, testifying that the purpose of creation and human existence is to exalt God and make His glory known. The Apostle John, in the book of Revelation, captures the heavenly worship, where creatures and elders proclaim, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:11). These passages are fit together like living stones in a holy temple of divine revelation, affirming God’s self-sufficient, immutable, aseitic nature, existing entirely for His own glory and pleasure.

This misunderstanding that we were necessary to fulfill some need within God goes beyond mere theological nuance—it strikes at the very heart of our worship and relationship with God. If we believe that God needs us, it subtly shifts the dynamic of our relationship with Him, placing undue emphasis on our role and importance. The profound reality that we are created by God, for God, becomes overshadowed by an egocentric perspective that sees our existence as central.

To elevate human importance to a level where we believe God needs us is to tread on dangerous theological territory. It fosters a self-centered faith, rather than a God-centered one, leading us away from awe and reverence for God and into a casual familiarity that lacks the depth and gravity our relationship with the Almighty demands.

The proper understanding of why God created us not only safeguards against this snare but elevates our view of God to its rightful place. In recognizing that God did not create out of need but out of the overflows of His glorious nature, we find ourselves drawn into deeper worship and greater adoration for our magnificent Creator. Furthermore, the disposability of man who fails to glorify God is clearly evident in Scripture. We see this in the times when God expressed regret over creating humanity, leading to the judgment of the Flood (Genesis 6:6-7), the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24-25), and ultimately, the reality of Hell for those who reject Him (Matthew 25:41). These sobering accounts serve as painful reminders that God’s primary concern is His glory, and He is fully justified in dealing righteously with those who rebel against His purposes.

Scripture repeatedly reminds us of the profound insignificance of humanity in contrast to God’s majesty. From the Psalms that question, ‘What is mankind that you are mindful of them?’ (Psalm 8:3-4) to Isaiah’s comparison of people to grasshoppers before the Creator (Isaiah 40:22-23), the message is clear. Job recognizes man as ‘a maggot’ and ‘only a worm’ (Job 25:6), and James likens life to a fleeting mist (James 4:14). Even our righteous acts are depicted as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), and our existence as transient as a passing shadow (Psalm 144:3-4). These vivid but sobering illustrations serve to heighten our understanding of God’s own importance and remind us that our existence, though purposeful, is only part of His grand design to glorify Himself—not us. The fact that He loved us anyway, in spite of our insignificance, is a testament to His own love, mercy, and glorious attributes, not because of anything within us.

In the end, the belief that God needs us is not merely erroneous—it is a distortion that undermines the very nature of God. Our existence is not about filling a void in God but about living for His glory, knowing Him, and making Him known. The God of Scripture is the self-existent One who shares His glory with His creation, not because He needs to, but because it pleases Him to do so, revealing His boundless grace, mercy, and love.