What the heck does god need our praise for anyway?

Question

Many Christians say that the purpose of our lives is to praise and glorify god... but why?

I know they believe that god created us and we should praise him in thanks for our lives but if our purpose is to do just that it's kind of silly no?

My question isn't why SHOULD we praise him, it's what is our praise good for? Why does god need this so bad that if we don't do it he has good reason to torture us for eternity? Is it just to feed his godly ego?

Answer 1

Would a perfect deity need his ego stroked? No! The very thought is ludicrous.

Answer 2

I hope that the way I live praises, and glorifies God. He doesn't need anything, but he want us to live right in order to have life more abundantly. Living as the Christ taught causes the way we live to be either a Yehhh!! God! Or a God?? What God? or even a f*** there is no God, which means that person is loosing out on a lot. Or anywhere in between. When I am able to feel blessed because God loves me, I believe that is the intent.

Blessed Be

Answer 3

If someone were to hand you something you really wanted or needed, would you not give them simple praise such as "Thank You"? The bible says that the blessings the Lord gives us each day are brand new. We praise God daily because He gives daily and blesses daily. Also, the bible does NOT say our sole purpose is to praise God, but to tell others of Him and what He did and is doing for us. You might think, "Well God knows who will be in Heaven and not, why should people be doing this?" That is true! BUT we as people, have no clue as to everyone that will be in Heaven, therefore, we have to get the word of Jesus Christ out to those who do not know, or are struggling. I tell you the truth brother that men will always twist and contort the words of the bible, but until you actually research it yourself, or read directly what those words say, you will hear nothing more than a media report.

Answer 4

God does not "NEED" our praise and worship..
Praise and worship is for our benefit.
Satan cannot be in the presence of a person who is praising God.
Actually Praise and worship are the weapons against the powers of darkness in a believer's life...
Praise and worship is not the only purpose in a believer's life..
Having a person come to Christ and to be snatched out of the hand of the enemy is our main goal on earth.

Answer 5

You raised an important point. God doesn't have an ego problem or an identity crisies like many of us humans do. The bible actually says that God needs nothing from us.

People often ask why did God create us. The answer, or at least a point in the right direction, might be in one thing that Jesus taught us: "It is better to give than to recieve."

Could it be that God created us with the idea of giving to us and not with the idea of recieving anything from us.

Why do couples decide to have children? It certainly isn't for everything we can get from them. I have two of my own. I believe most do it with an inbread desire to give sacrificially to something that comes from us. To pass on love to a being that bares our own image.

Answer 6

You started your question with your answer: "Many Christians say that the purpose of our lives is to praise and glorify god." The Bible doesn't tell us that's our purpose, that's what people who love God begin to feel their purpose is. They want to praise and glorify God because they realize how incredible his gifts are. This is a desire that grows as your spirituality becomes stronger. God doesn't need our praise, he just wants us to be close to him since we are his children. Our praise comes from our desire to express our love.

Answer 7

I am not Christian, so my view is a little different.

Jews and Righteous Gentiles believe that this life is a gift from G-d and it is to be lived and enjoyed. There are many pleasures in the world, from nature, to making love to the simple sent of fresh cookies that we are to take part of. Instead of escaping this world because it is 'evil' as Christians claim, we live in the world, doing G-d's will because he created it for us. While we are to enjoy this world we are not to forget G-d nor take part in anything that does not glorify him. Some even believe it is a sin not to take pleasure in the world! Which is very different from the prevading Christian thought.

We praise G-d for everything. And we praise him always, even in times of trial. As David said, in the depth of despair "And I will still praise him". G-d doesn't need our praise, it is not something that he needs to exist. Like Tinkerbell needing belief and clapping hands to not die.

Rather, we praise G-d out of love. G-d existed before us and will always exist. He loves us, created us out of love and wants us to love him in return. But he does not exist merely to collect that love. Our praise stems from our love of him - a rejoicing in the Divine love seated in our souls. The Eternal spark of G-d that shines within each of us. Praise is simply our way of thanking G-d and growing closer to him.

Answer 8

Praise is honor and love. You wouldn't claim to love your mother and father if you never showed it. Kind of silly no? Love is a two way type thing. And we show love for God by doing His will and at least trying to live in His character. His character is the character of love. Thus the Ten Commandments. Jesus summed it up when He said to love God (show His loving character) and to "Love Thy Neighbor as Thy Self" That's what its all about. What a world it would be.

God bless

Answer 9

Ak : If the Lord is all-powerful, why does He care whether we worship Him or not?
Homer : Well, Ak, it's because God is powerful, but also insecure, like Barbara Streisand before James Brolin. Oh, he's been a rock.
— Homer Simpson

Christians believe themselves to be the aristocracy of heaven upon earth, they are admitted to the spiritual court, while millions of men in foreign lands have never been presented. They bow their knees and say they are 'miserable sinners,' and their hearts rankle with abominable pride. Poor infatuated fools! Their servility is real and their insolence is real but their king is a phantom and their palace is a dream.
— Winwood Reade

Illusions die hard and it is painful to yield to the insight that a grown-up can be no man's disciple.
— Sheldon B. Kopp

Answer 10

I'm not a Christian, per se, but I believe in God and I believe we should live a life that honors him. He sees to it that our needs are met and he gives us such beauty to live in and hope. I don't know if I can convey to you the depth of what I feel about God, and I am not even good at showing it anyway, but God doesn't NEED it. The same as you don't NEED a lovelife or a fancy house. Think about that.

Answer 11

The Trinity is a trinity of love. We are made in God's image and that image is Love. God doesn't need the praise, but we need to praise him. Because by so doing we are entering that love relationship between creator and creature, infinite being and finite being. Because it feels good .