Chabad Jewish Centre of Barrie
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What does G-d need us for?

Picture
Question

If G-d is perfect, why did He create us? A perfect being isn't missing anything, so why would He need us? And if He doesn't need us, is our life meaningless? Are we just some divine experiment?

Answer:

You are absolutely correct: G-d, being perfect, was missing nothing before creation. There is no possible need that this world can fulfill for Him. He doesn't need anything.

So creating us could not have been in order to fulfill a need. It was something G-d chose to do. He doesn't need us, He wants us.

What does G-d want from us? The one thing He didn't have before creation was a relationship. He was alone. What He wanted from this world was a relationship with free beings. So He created us and gave us ways of connecting to Him -- the mitzvot.

But we can't say that He needed this relationship with us. He may have been alone before creation, but he was still G-d -- perfect and missing nothing. He didn't need a relationship -- He wanted it.

Does this make our life unnecessary? Does the fact that G-d doesn't "need" us make us less significant?

No, on the contrary. When we have a relationship with someone just because we need them (such as a cleaning lady, or a family doctor) then when that need has been fulfilled the relationship ends. Your connection is dependant on them providing a service, and will only last as long as that service is needed.

But when we have a relationship with someone simply because we want to, because we have chosen to connect to them, then that bond is intrinsic. We don't love them because of what they do for us, we love them for who they are -- and that is forever.

G-d doesn't need us; He wants us. He didn't give us commandments because He needs them to be fulfilled, but because He wants us to relate to Him. If we were created because G-d needed us to do something, then we would be secondary to that mission -- once the mission was fulfilled we could be disposed of. But G-d needs nothing. He chose to bring us into being as a pure act of love.

That is the test of true love: if my beloved could no longer provide me with my needs, would I still love him or her just for being my beloved?

By creating us, G-d answered yes.

By Aron Moss

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • The Organization
    • The Rabbi
    • Jewish Area
    • Photo Gallery
    • Support plans
  • Programs
    • Event Calendar
    • Adult Education >
      • Tanya classes
      • Lunch and Learn
      • Study Course
      • Torah Tales course
      • One on One Torah study
      • Articles & Insights
      • Questions & Answers
    • Inspirational Evening
    • Community Shabbat dinner
    • Havdallah & Melave Dinner
    • Gan Chabad Jewish Preschool - About
    • Hebrew School
    • Summer Camp >
      • About
      • Testimonials
      • Photo Gallery
      • Dates & Rates
      • Registration
      • Faq's
    • Winter Camp
    • Krav Maga Youth >
      • Krav Maga Info & Registration
    • JTeens
    • Jewish Lending Library
    • Jewish Holidays >
      • High Holidays >
        • High Holidays Services
        • Rosh Hashana Community Dinner
      • Sukkot
      • Simchat Torah
      • Chanukah >
        • Menorah Lighting & Chanukah Fest
        • Chanukah Menorah & Candles
        • Chanukah Sufganiyot Baking
        • Chanukah Sufganiyot Orders
        • Menorah Workshop
      • Purim >
        • Hamantash bake
      • Passover >
        • Passover Seder
        • Order Shmurah Matzah
        • Passover products order form
        • What is Shmurah Matzah?
        • Selling Chametz
      • Lag Ba'omer
      • Shavuot
    • Synagogue Services
    • Challah Bake
    • Community BBQ
    • Havdallah Kids Event
  • Jewish Practice
    • Bar/Bat Mitzvah
    • Jewish Calendar >
      • Request a Holiday package
    • Mezuzah
    • How to light the Menorah
    • Shabbat Candle Lighting >
      • How to
      • Shabbat Times for Barrie
      • Shabbat SMS Reminder
      • Holiday Candle Lighting
    • Kosher Beverages
    • Kosher Poultry and Meat
    • Kosher Products
    • Mikvah
  • Contact
    • Join our email list
    • Ask the Rabbi
  • Donate
    • Building fund
    • Support plans
  • stam