Acts 17:24-25 English Standard Version
24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
We often tell ourselves we are created to serve God. Here in this passage it says otherwise. It is not meant to give us a proper understanding of our condition for we are in Christ. To understand these passages we must get back to the basic understanding rules of scripture.
Who is speaking? Paul.
Who is listening? The men of the Areopagus.
What are the circumstances? The men of the Areopagus were the high thinkers of Athens who would gather and reason with one another. Paul observed their religious beliefs. They had an alter that was dedicated to sacrifice to the unknown god. These words were the beginning of Paul’s introduction to them of this god that is God and desires to be known.
I find a compelling verse that follows, “In him we live and move and have our being.” What made it compelling was that Paul quotes one of the literary minds they were familiar with in their studies. His comment to them is that God is not far off and that by seeking Him they might find Him. If they only knew who He is by the means provided by Himself for us all.
The larger understanding for this scripture is that the words were meant for those who do not know God and we do. We have a proper understanding of who God is because we have asked Him into our hearts for a deep personal relationship.
The attitude that God is far off and unknown does not make room for a personal relationship.