Is God excessively self-centered?

1. Defining the Question

Many readers ask whether God’s call to worship, glorification, and adoration can be described as self-centered. This question touches on both God’s character and His relationship with humanity. Understanding this dynamic requires careful study of the scriptural record, which testifies to His identity, nature, and actions.

2. The Nature of God and His Worthiness of Glory

Scripture emphasizes that God alone is the Creator, infinitely wise and perfectly holy. Because of His nature, He deserves praise and glory. As stated, “I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols” (Isaiah 42:8). God’s insistence on receiving glory flows from who He is: the source of all life, righteousness, and truth.

From a human perspective, self-centeredness often implies seeking attention or admiration without deserving it. However, in God’s case, He is the highest good and the rightful owner of all worship. In Revelation 4:11, the heavenly chorus declares: “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power. For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and came to be.” Such passages illustrate that God’s call to be glorified corresponds with His role as the eternal Creator and Sustainer of life.

3. Holiness and Perfect Love

God’s holiness underlines the separation between the eternal Creator and His creation. “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3). Holiness sets Him apart from all impurity, highlighting that God’s actions are never tainted by selfish motivations. Rather, His self-revelation points to perfect righteousness and justice.

The same God revealed in Scripture also epitomizes love. “God is love” (1 John 4:8) underscores that all divine attributes—including His desire for worship—work alongside His sacrificial concern for humanity. This love became supremely evident in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8), offering salvation rather than condemnation. Thus, God’s “self-focus,” so to speak, must be reconciled with His unwavering commitment to redeem and restore.

4. God’s Self-Revelation in Redemptive History

Throughout history, God has revealed Himself not only through the pages of Scripture but also through specific events and discoveries:

1. Biblical Manuscripts and Consistency: Ancient manuscripts such as the Dead Sea Scrolls confirm the careful preservation of passages extolling God’s holiness and worthiness of worship (e.g., Isaiah 6). These scrolls match our modern renderings with remarkable precision, underscoring the reliability of the texts describing God’s character.

2. Archaeological Findings: Excavations at sites like Jericho, Hazor, and Jerusalem have corroborated many historical details of the biblical narrative. These discoveries, while primarily historical, support an overarching biblical storyline that describes God repeatedly calling His people away from idolatry and back into covenant fellowship with Him (e.g., 1 Kings 18).

3. Resurrection of Christ: The historically attested resurrection of Jesus demonstrates God’s power over death and bolsters the notion that God is not a distant entity demanding attention; rather, He is intimately involved in humanity’s salvation. Scriptural evidence—1 Corinthians 15:3–8—and the empty tomb accounts testify to this pivotal event that grounds hope and worship in God’s loving plan, not in arbitrary requirement.

5. Freedom vs. Compulsion in Worship

True worship is voluntary devotion stemming from faith rather than forced compliance. God invites belief and relationship: “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD” (Isaiah 1:18). The Bible shows that those who discover God’s mercy and grace choose to magnify Him, recognizing that He provides the solution to sin and separation (Romans 3:23–24).

This exchange dispels the perception of a tyrant craving adoration. Instead, God extends grace and reconciliation, inviting humanity “to share in His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10). By His design, worship becomes the logical response when a created being perceives the goodness and majesty of its Creator.

6. The Purpose of Glorifying God

He who created the universe (Genesis 1:1) is the source of all that is good and life-giving. Therefore, aligning with the Creator is the ultimate good. The act of glorifying God is not a demand born of self-serving desire. Rather, as Psalm 16:11 affirms, “You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.” Thus, God’s glory is interwoven with human fulfillment.

Although the language of Scripture sometimes sounds like God is exalting Himself—“For My own sake, for My own sake, I do this… I will not yield My glory to another” (Isaiah 48:11)—this self-revelation aligns with a cosmic reality: only the One who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving can fulfill the deepest spiritual needs of humanity. Worship is not an extraction of honor for God’s benefit, but rather liberation for the believer, ushering us into the fullness of truth (John 8:32).

7. Philosophical Considerations

Philosophically, if God existed merely as a finite creature seeking personal elevation, He would be self-centered. Because He is infinite in perfection and the origin of all value, praising Him is rational. Similar to how a painting directs admiration toward the artist rather than to itself, creation directs glory to its Creator.

Furthermore, from a moral and ethical perspective, humility is vital for finite beings because we are neither omniscient nor omnipotent. God, however, transcends these limits, making His rightful self-awareness part of His intrinsic nature. There is no higher moral reference point for God than Himself, which is consistent with the concept that Creator and creation must maintain their proper distinction.

8. Relationship of Worship to Human Well-Being

Believers throughout history have testified that adoring God produces profound joy and peace. Modern behavioral studies have also found that gratitude and worship—or the recognition of a higher purpose—can lead to better mental health and life satisfaction. Though not a direct proof of God’s worthiness, such findings illustrate that when people “taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8), it positively affects their well-being.

Even those unacquainted with biblical texts may sense there is a transcendent dimension or design behind conscious life. A posture of gratitude and reverence often steers individuals away from destructive self-absorption, showing that the object of true worship should lie beyond oneself, pointing toward something (or Someone) greater.

9. Conclusion

The notion that God is “excessively self-centered” arises when we equate His rightful demands for worship with a flawed human tendency for self-aggrandizement. However, Scripture reveals a loving, holy, and just Creator who rightfully deserves recognition and praise because He is the source of all life, truth, and redemption. He provides salvation through the resurrection of Christ, demonstrates care in creation, and establishes a relationship with humanity that is both awe-inspiring and profoundly loving.

Far from petty self-interest, God’s call to worship is a gracious invitation to align with ultimate reality, culminating in spiritual joy and restoration. By recognizing His nature and worthiness, we see that all honor is ascribed to the One who alone can receive it without corruption. Such worship fulfills and renews us, testifying that God’s pursuit of His own glory and the good of His people are inseparably linked.