I love to imagine how things were created or invented. It is fascinating to me to imagine what was going through someone’s mind when they decided they were going to create something that had never been created before. My fiancé and I will do this regularly where we bring up something and just ask each other, “How did they even create this?” Our response is always, “I don’t know. I’m not smart enough for that.” Our favorites to think about have been soap, how words were created, Bluetooth, and cameras. Now, I am sure someone is reading this who is much smarter than I am and can explain these things, but at the moment, they do not make much sense to me. I know that they are created and that someone knows how to create them, but for me personally, it is hard to comprehend.

1. What is something that was invented that confuses you?

I feel the same way about this attribute of God that we are going to study today. We are going to look at the self-sufficiency of God. It is a very important attribute of God’s character that will help us to gain a deeper knowledge of who He is and how that relates to us. Before we jump into Scripture, I want to ask a few questions.

2. What do you think self-sufficiency means?

3. What do you think God being self-sufficient means?

4. Do you think the God we worship is self-sufficient? Why or why not?

An important part of studying God’s self-sufficiency is first defining what this attribute is. According to “Systematic Theology” by John Frame, this attribute means “God is uncaused, and has within himself sufficient reason or grounds for his existence.” In easier terms, this just means God was not created by anything or anyone, and He is not dependent on anything or anyone else to exist.

To make the case that God is self-sufficient, we must see in Scripture if God has any needs.

Read Psalm 50:8-15.

5. In verse 8, God says He does not rebuke them for their offering. What other reason would God be rebuking them for?

6. When commanding the Israelites to sacrifice burnt offerings, did He need those offerings?

7. Who owns all the beasts, cattle, birds, and everything else?

8. Does God need to eat and drink like us to live? Which verse gives us that answer?

The first case for God’s self-sufficiency can be seen in this passage found in Psalm chapter 50. God did not need the physical offering from the Israelites. He owns and already has the right to everything on Earth.

We can see in Scripture where it shows that God owns everything.

Read Psalm 24:1; Job 41:11; and Genesis 1:1.

9. What does God own?

10. If God created everything, does that mean He is the ruler of everything?

11. Why is it important to know that God is the maker, ruler, and owner of everything?

God was there before anything was created. Think of that for a moment. The Bible says before the foundations of the world God existed. He did not come into being from anything else. Because of this, God has the power to create, which is how we have creation as we see it. He is the Maker of all which means He is the Ruler over it. Everything in Heaven and on Earth is His. He has no needs. He does not need food, water, or even us to exist. The question then becomes what do we do with this information?

Understanding God’s self-sufficiency should give us a deeper affection for the Gospel. I want you to read these next few verses and answer the last few questions in light of everything we just discussed.

Read John 3:16; Romans 5:8; and 1 Timothy 2:3-6.

12. If God does not need us, does He still want us? What in these verses tells us He wants us?

13. How did God display His desire to save us?

14. Why would God, who does not need anything, save people who are sinners?

15. Do you believe God loves you this much? Have you surrendered your life to God?

One of the most beautiful truths about the Gospel is that God does not need us or our worship to exist. Yet, He loves us and wants us so much that He sent His only Son down to the Earth to go to the cross, die, and rise again for the forgiveness of our sins. My prayer is that you would hear this truth and respond by surrendering your life to the Lord.