“Probably the hardest thought of all for our natural egotism to entertain is that God does not need our help.”

This statement is both true and misleading.

God is all powerful and can do as He pleases. He does not need our help to accomplish anything. Rather He commands us and cajoles us for our own sake and for the sake of our neighbor. God does not need us to act, but we do. And God deeply desires us to act for our own and others’ benefit. He needs for us to live for the benefit of others—not because He can’t do something Himself, but because of His love for us. He loves us so much that He is constantly yearning for us to act in our own benefit.

This benefit, admittedly, looks a lot like no benefit at all, for self-sacrifice does not look like the love of oneself, but a hatred. But the fact is, if we loved ourselves, we would sacrifice ourselves for others’ benefit. God desires this, not because He needs our action, but rather our companionship. Only those who live the love of God can truly understand Him and fellowship with Him.