Does God value us?

The following excerpt is from Jonathan Edwards's dissertation titled "The End for Which God Created the World." As the title shows, Edwards primarily addresses the reason God created. 

In this quote, Edwards explains why it is right (*moral) for God to have the highest regard and respect for himself over and above all other beings or things.

However, we wish to look at this quote more closely to see what Edwards says about God having regard and respect for beings other than himself and why he would.

"...At least, a great part of the *moral rectitude of God, whereby he is disposed (drawn) to every thing that is fit, suitable, and amiable [i.e. good, right, pleasant, admirable] in itself, consists in his having the highest regard to that which is in itself highest and best (i.e. Himself). The moral rectitude of God must consist in a due respect to things that are objects of moral respect; that is, to intelligent beings capable of moral actions and relations. And therefore it must chiefly consist in giving due respect to that Being (i.e.God) to whom most is due; for God is infinitely the most worthy of regard. The worthiness of others (beings) is as nothing to his; so that to him belongs all (the greatest/highest) possible respect. To him belongs (is rightfully his) the whole of the respect that any intelligent being is capable of. To him belongs (it is also rightfully his) ALL the heart. Therefore, if moral rectitude of heart consist in paying the respect of the heart which is due, or which fitness and suitableness requires, fitness requires infinitely the greatest regard (but not the only regard i.e. he has regard to others) to be paid to God; and the denying of supreme regard here would be a conduct infinitely the most unfit. Hence it will follow, that the moral rectitude of the disposition, inclination, or affection of God chiefly (but not exclusively) consists in a regard to HIMSELF, infinitely above his regard to all other beings; in other words, his holiness consists in this.” (emphasis such as parenthetical, emboldened or underscored comments etc. are my own)

Though the main and most important point Edwards makes is God is the highest and greatest being, and therefore must have the highest and greatest respect for himself, he also hints he has regard for any being capable of moral respect. 

"The moral rectitude of God must consist in a due respect to things (beings) that are objects of moral respect; that is, to intelligent beings capable of moral actions and relations..." i.e. beings other than God that can also recieve and give God honor in the same way He does between the Father, Son, Spirit. 

Edward's use of the word "must" shows the ¹moral ²necessity of God having regard for any being capable of having "¹moral actions and relations." This is primarily true of God in regards to Himself but also of others like Him i.e. you and I. God created us as intelligent beings capable of moral actions and relations, to use Edwards words. This is clearly suggested when the Bible says we are "made in the image of God."

By God's own nature and design, he must value and love the most lovely and valuable. And who would that be? God himself is the most worthy of adoration and love. Why? He is love and life. From, through, and to him are all things. Without him nothing would be, that is. He is supremely valuable above all other beings or things. 

And Christ is the perfect eternal expression-reflection-image of God. If we see Christ for who he truly is, we see God as He truly is. But after Christ, we are next.

God's value of us has nothing to do with what we do or say but who we are, who God Himself designed us to be. It is an innate capacity and ability given to us by God and is therefore something he holds in the highest regard (just below regard for Himself). God is not obligated by us - by what we do or don't do - to value us. He values us because of who he made us to be i.e. our being, not our doing. The reason God love us and desires to be in union with us is self "imposed." 

This is due to our nature (God's and ours) and his design of those other beings i.e. we are like God - His image-bearers - with the capacity to engage in "moral actions and relations."

What is the nature of those moral actions and relations? What do "¹moral actions and relations" comprise? Any actions that deliberately/willfully acknowledge God's ultimate worth and any beings capable of doing so. This is not just true of God, but of us as well. And it is only true of us because it's true of God 1st - and that He made us like himself.

God has the highest regard for what we do. Our God-honoring conduct is genuinely pleasing to Him (as much as our dishonoring Him is not). But our capacity to live for God's honor is only possible because of who He has made us be.

Therefore, it is not only good and right that God has the highest regard for himself as the highest and most significant being but to have regard for other beings like him who are capable of having similar regard for him.

Who are those beings other than God? Us! We are created in the image of the greatest being of all. Though God is the ultimate and only infinite being who most worthy, elicits the highest regard and is capable of giving (and receiving) the greatest respect, we are like him and therefore capable of giving him due respect in the same way he does; in a way no other creature can. Though our ability to willfully regard God properly - i.e. to recognize and bring him his due glory and honor - is small ("as nothing") compared to his, it is a capability we have none the less which ³no other creature has (only we, out of all the rest of creation, are like God).

The point is God values ("has regard for") us due to our ability to appreciate and enjoy his infinite worth. The greater that ability the more he values (regards) the one who possesses it. God having the greatest ability elicits his greatest regard for himself first and foremost. Because we too have this ability, we are valued accordingly.

Again Edwards says God has 

"...due respect to things that are objects of ¹moral respect; that is, to intelligent beings (i.e. us as well as himself) capable of moral actions and relations..."  

In short, God values in us what he values in himself, the ability to give due regard and recognition to his great value and glory. Certainly, our capability is to an infinitely lesser degree than his, but a capability we have nevertheless. A capacity he values in us. 

Because this capability is given to us by God, it is not a point of pride but of humility. It is a gift, not anything accomplished or earned by us. It is who he has made us to be, not what we have done by or for ourselves. 

Knowing that our capability to properly regard (value/glorify) God is only a drop in an infinite ocean compared to his, is also a point of humility. He alone is the infinite source. We are simply conduits/vessels. 

Why does God love me?! 

When people say "I don't understand why God would love me," this is precisely why God would ⁴love you. He made you with the capacity to know and enjoy him in all his infinite glory in the same way (quality not quantity) he knows and enjoys himself. And in turn to radiate out to others his glory i.e. we are able to make Him known to others in a direct and deliberate way. 

To say it another way, we are able to deliberately, willfully and consciously glorify God and enjoy him forever in a way no other creature can. All of this and more is included in our being made in his image.

God values -- "has high regard for" -- us precisely because he values himself first, in whose image we have been created.

Some other links that touch on different aspects of God valuing us:

Our worth is based on what?

Why in God's name does he love us?

God's love based on who or what?

Created for glory

Lovable vs lovely

Hardwired for greatness

The most valuable values us 

Our worth Gods glory

Giving and receiving glory

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¹For a further discussion on the basis for morality, click here.

²It is unnecessary in the sense that God is not obligated by something outside himself. God needs no one and nothing (no created thing) and answers only to himself. But because of who he is and who he made us to be as his image-bearers, this is a "necessity" first by his nature and his design. It is the way things operate because it is the way God designed them to operate according to his own nature. If there is any necessity, it is one God has within and to himself - within his being, according to who he is as the all-glorious God.

³all of God's creation glorifies him by design. We, however, appear to be the only beings that glorify him by both design and choice. The angels chose him at one point when some rebelled with Lucifer and others did not. We, however, are still in an ongoing state where we can choose not to trust him in this life, whereas angels apparently no longer have to deal with this battle. They only desire God, which will also be our future glorified state. 

⁴This is also why God is pleased with us the more we delight in him. Not unlike a wife would be when her husband delighted in her. Even though His love for us and acceptance of us is not based on or affected by our delight or lack of delight in him - i.e. his love is poured out on us because of the efforts of Christ, not ours - His commitment to and acceptance of us are unwavering because of Christ. Nothing we do or don't do can separate us from his love — we can nevertheless bring greater joy to God's heart the more we trust and delight in him.

For a fuller discussion on pleasing God click here. 

To say it another way, our rebellious unfaithfulness (sin) matters. It not only has a negative impact on us and those around us but it shows our lack of love for God and dishonors him i.e. we do treat Him with the respect He rightly deserves. It saddens God because he loves us and knows our honoring him is not only for our good but the means by which others are drawn to him through us. It saddens him if his glory is not being spread more effectively through us to others, affecting their experiencing and enjoying God in all his glory. 

  

Heb 11:6  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.