³⁶ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

The reason for the greatness of God is found in three phrases in verse 36. These verses proclaim God as the source, means, and goal of creation. In effect, God is supreme majesty and self-sufficient to creation.

Verse 36 is the ground of verses 34 and 35. God is free from obligation of His creatures because He built the entire universe around Himself.

³⁶ For

The word “for” ties verses 34 and 35 together to show that we must look at the world from a God-centered (theocentric) viewpoint rather than from a human viewpoint (anthropocentric). The purpose of creation is God’s own glory.

If creation pivots around God, then we must go to Him for answers about our ultimate purpose. That is why no one can be His counselor. God is the giver rather than the receiver of information. He does not benefit from what man knows.

The word “for” shows that an exhaustive understanding of God’s purpose for creation is impenetrable. We can know something but not everything about why God does what He does with man.

PRINCIPLE:

God does not need anything from us, but rather we need to depend on Him.

APPLICATION:

God stands over creation, and so He is supreme over anything in creation. That is the reason why man cannot put God in debt. God’s grace not only extends to salvation but to the entire creation. We depend on Him for everything. He Himself does not need anything:

Ac 17:24-25, ²⁴ God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. ²⁵ Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.