Have you ever sat down or laid on your bed just before falling asleep and asked yourself, Why did God create man? Why did He create all of us and the whole universe? But most importantly why did God create me? As in ‘you’.
This is a very controversial topic, especially for religious people versus scientists. From a religious view, the world was formed by being created by God. The scientists believe otherwise.
Then Why Did God Create the World?
By world I mean the earth and all that exists in it, both fauna and flora.
God in His splendour, goodness and love created the world so that He can be able to manifest His Love, Glory, Honour and Might. But someone may ask, to who does God need to manifest anything to? The simple answer is to all His creation.
St Thomas Aquinas says that love is mostly the possible reason why God created man and the world in general. Because of His infinite love, God created man to spread His goodness and love. He also says that God created the world so that the world and humanity knows Him, loves Him, serves Him, praises and glorifies Him.
We will derive most of our answers from the Holy Bible. First, let us list some verses from the Bible that will give us some direction.
The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is He who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.
Acts 17:24-25
“Or who has given him anything that he may be repaid?” For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:35-36
For every animal of the forest is mine, beasts by the thousands on my mountains. I know every bird in the heights; whatever moves in the wild is mine.
Psalms 50:10-11
Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being
Genesis 2:7
From each Bible Verse above from both the Old and New Testaments, we can conclusively say that God is the author of life and the creator of Heaven and earth and all that exists in it. He is the one who breathes life into us and through His providence we survive.
Why Did God Create Man?
As we have highlighted above, God created man so that man can Know Him, Love Him, Serve Him then Praise and Glorify Him for the rest of his life. Each Bible Verse below sheds some light here.
“Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created.”
Revelation 4:11
All who are called by my name I created for my glory; I formed them, made them.
Isaiah 43:7
Now, we have established that God created us so that we can Know Him, Love Him, Serve Him then Praise and Glorify Him for the rest of our lives. Now, how does God wish that we execute this assignment? To explain this I will use an example.
Why Did God Create Me?
Suppose you are a farmer and you have a problem to solve in your poultry farm. Your chickens have started laying eggs and you need a cart to collect and carry your eggs to the storeroom. So this is what you do? You sit down and first decide that you need the cart, secondly you plan how you will construct it so that it does exactly what you want it to do. Then you design or mould it perfectly, to your desired image that is pleasing to your eye. After that, you bring it to the location where it will become useful and fulfil the reasons why you made it in the first place.
The above is the exact reason why God created each one of us. Before we were created, God had seen a special task that each one of us is supposed to do. God could not have formed and sustained you in your mother’s womb if He didn’t have a task for you to accomplish once you are born.
The tasks that God assigns us are instilled in us in the form of talents, passions, skills, knowledge or hobbies. When God gives them to you, He doesn’t expect you to ignore them, he expects you to use them to serve Him. So let’s beef-up this explanation with the Parable of the Talents. Matthew 25:14-30
In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus tries to explain to us that when God created us, He gave each one of us a talent which, because we already know and love God, we should use it to serve Him and from the outcomes of exploiting that talent, God will be praised and glorified by all who see it.
So, How Do You Identify the Talent Given To You By God?
When we were little kids, we were usually asked what we would wish to become when we grow up. We had so many wishes and they would overwhelm our teachers who wanted to help us identify our core talents.
Luckily, as we grew up our teachers and parents could slowly by slowly identify our talents from how skillfully, passionately, happily or lovingly we would execute the different tasks assigned to us. We were lucky to have identified our talents with the help of our teachers, parents and other mentors.
But not so many in our society get the opportunity of having their parents, teachers or mentors help them identify their talents. They grow up in the money-focused education system where they end up in the wrong and unfulfilling careers and professions even though the salaries and allowances are great.
I am sure you have heard of or met former Bluechip company CEO’s who say that they quit their million-dollar salary jobs and ventured into large-scale farming. This is because the big salary did not enchant them, their hearts just felt hollow or empty and they needed to engage in something that their hearts desired most. Now, ladies and gentlemen, what these people feel in their hearts is the impulse or pressure being exerted on them by God to do what they were created to do.
These tasks that you do out of passion and love rarely fail because in case you run into problems over and over again, whether financially or logistically, you usually stand up, dust your clothes, correct the problem and try again. You just don’t give up easily. Those who give up easily always live in regrets and may suffer depression and poverty.
So How Do You Identify Your Talent By Yourself?
When you lie on your bed at night just before falling asleep, you get this persistent thought that is usually mixed with wishes. This thought usually come in the form of alternatives to what you are doing at the moment and causing you too much anguish.
If you have these thoughts very often when you are relaxing or resting, then God is trying to redirect you to your talent. If you don’t have these thoughts then you may already be nurturing and exploiting your God-given talent.
Also, have you ever passed somewhere and seen a person doing something and you wish you are the one doing it? That too can be your passion and talent.
Still have you ever effortlessly, and with no profit in mind, done something quite big and people appreciate you? And you felt so much fulfilment in your heart even though there was no money gained? That is God speaking to you! Continue executing whatever you are doing. God will bless you there.
So hurry up and skillfully drop what you are doing in vain and start doing what your heart is telling you to do, as long as it is good and of benefit to the society and God.
How Do I Love, Serve, Praise and Glorify God Through My Work?
If God has blessed you with work and you love the work you do, then you are in the right place. That portfolio that has been given to you by your employer to serve the people is the task given to you by God to serve Him there. So don’t think that your first allegiance should be your employer, No! Your first allegiance should be to God.
Work according to the dictates of the biggest commandment given to us by Jesus, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbour as you love yourself.” Work as though it is God telling you to serve your customers. Work in such a way that those people you attend to will praise and glorify God through whatever you do to them and however you do it. Let your customers always say, “God bless you,” on their way out of your work station. Those many “God Bless You’s” will not go for long without being answered.
If you are a farmer, make sure the produce you take to the market is healthy and fit for human consumption. Produce as though God has commanded you to produce for His flock.
If you are a government employee, serve the people with love and tenderness especially the least of our brothers and sisters because you have been commanded by God to do so. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells us that, “… whatsoever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” When you serve the people, you serve God, so, how would you serve God? Well or badly? You decide!
Therefore, when you are in your workplace, know that you are serving God, so make sure God is praised and glorified through your work.
When I Serve God Will I Become Rich?
Most people think that they can only become rich when they play dirty in their professions, places of work or trades. Nothing is further from the truth, on the contrary, if you play dirty, you become more miserable, insecure from your adversaries and this drives one to poverty mentally, financially and in conscience.
From the Parable of the Talents, in Matthew 25:29 Jesus, with authority and finality tells us that, “For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
What does the above Bible Verse teach us? It tells us that when we utilize and exploit the talents given to us by God in a way that is good is according to His Holy Will, we will be rewarded greatly through Gods providence and Love.
This same Bible Verse teaches us that if we do not utilize our God-given talents to serve God, they will be snatched from us and be given to others who have utilized theirs. In this way, Those who have utilized their talents will receive more and more talents from those who have been snatched and in this way they will become rich. This is what Jesus teaches us!
To exemplify this scenario lets take the example of an athlete. When an athlete identifies his talent, he struggles to practice over and over again so as to become a champion. Once he wins the first race then the second and a third race, he finds it very easy to practice and fight to win the other races. After that, victory follows him everywhere he goes. These added victories are the talents that are snatched from the lazy and ungrateful others and added to him.
If any of these athletes get fame and deviates from serving God through their talents, they mostly, if not always, strangely vanish from the limelight. This happens if they are found doping and dropped by their sponsors. God would not allow His name to be tarnished by ungrateful evildoers. This Bible Verse below explains it.
Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans 1:18-21
When we are serving God through our work and talents, we shouldn’t be so much focused solely on monetary profit but on how we will glorify God through that work. In our service, God assures us of His support, care, comfort and love. In Matthew 7:7-12 Jesus tells us that, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” And also in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” So in your initial struggles in your talent exploitation, do not give up, the Lord is there for you.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can now answer the question, “Why Did God Create Man?” As mentioned at the beginning, St Thomas Aquinas says that love is mostly the possible reason why God created man and the world in general. Because of His infinite love, God created man to spread His goodness and love. He also says that God created the world so that the world and humanity knows, loves, serves, praises and glorifies Him.
God wishes that we attribute all our joys, success, gains and wealth and whole life to Him. We shouldn’t think that it is from our own efforts that we gained what we have. We as human beings think that if we have money we can do without God.
We have idolised and worshipped money and God is not happy. He says in Isaiah 42:8, “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” And in Isaiah 48:9-11, “I will act for my own sake, indeed, my own, for how can I be defiled? I will not give my glory to another.” So do not let the wrath of God befall you.
Money is not bad but money is supposed to assist us to serve God. Money is a means to an end. So do not worship money but praise and glorify God for giving you the chance and money to love and serve Him. If He gives you a lot of money then know He has given you a lot of responsibilities.
Finally, the Bible Verse in Isaiah 6:3 says, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” Each one of us should, therefore, know why God created us and that is to Know Him, Love Him, Serve Him, Praise Him and fill the earth with His Glory from our works.
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