What is man that you are mindful of him or the son of man that you care for him?
Ps. 8:4
God is all sufficient in Himself. There is nothing we can add to God that makes God anything more than He already is. God does not actually ‘need’ anything. So I asked, like the Psalmist did in Psalm 8 after he reflects on the wonder and majesty of God; what is man that you are mindful of Him, the Son of man that you care for Him? He answers, purpose.
Colossians 1: 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
He destined us in love[ a] to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:5 RSV
The Psalmist went on to write in verses five through eight
you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honour .
You have have given him dominion of the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet…..
O Lord our Lord how majestic is your name.”
Creating for purpose is something very different than creating from need. We all live within our own personal framework of need. Our relationship with God is based upon needs. We are only complete in Him and sufficient only because of His sufficiency. We have been created to need Him, abide in Him, and serve His purposes.
If I live from creative purpose, I am able to join with the Apostle Paul declaring I am not my own. I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus, ordained for good works.
For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure
Philippians 2:13
It is within this created purpose that God has crowned man with glory and honour and given him dominion over the works of His hands and put all things under his feet. It was this way from the beginning of mans creation seen in Genesis one. And again, from Hebrews chapter two with the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
Understanding we have been created for His purpose, His use, and enabled by His glory, honour and authority to do His works on this earth, we become a people motivated by purpose rather than need.
There was no need Jesus met that He was not able to overcome in purpose. All of His activity moved in purpose towards God’s created design.
Jesus was a lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Purpose.
For this purpose was the Son of God manifest…. Purpose.
When we don’t understand purpose we misuse the created.
When we don’t understand purpose we spend and are spent in vain.
God has placed much value upon man and the work he has been created to do here on earth. Mindful and caring of this creation He works all things in our lives unto His purpose and will. We have the joy of being able to say, I was simply a servant doing my duty and, hopefully, enter into the joy of the Lord.
On another thought- perhaps this is why joy is lacking in so many - we are outside our created purpose? But we can write about that another time.