The Hall of FaithSample

Why Does Faith Matter So Much To God?

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.

Hebrews 11 is one of the greatest chapters on faith in the Bible, and verse 6 is the pivotal verse in the chapter. This verse is a ringing clarion call to the absolute importance of faith: “And without faith it is impossible to please him.”

Unless we trust in God and not ourselves, we cannot please God. Unless we believe that God will take care of us, we cannot please God. Unless we rely on God’s power and not our own resources, we cannot please God.

At the end of your life, will it be said that you were a man or woman who lived by faith? Did you trust in God to come through for you? Did you have a faith that delighted the heart of God? Or by contrast, did you tend to rely upon your own resources as you went through life?

The Bible tells us, unequivocally, that it is impossible to please God unless we live by faith. I wonder: Why does faith matter so much to God? Why does it please the infinite God so much when we trust Him? Two things come to mind. 

First, it matters to God how we view Him. Yes, God is the infinite God, but He is also the personal God. God has feelings too. If I see God as a stern taskmaster who is hard to please and hard to live with, this grieves His heart. But if I see God as bursting with tender love and relentless compassion, as a God who is patient, kind, and easy to live with, our God loves it.

My second thought: trusting God goes with loving God. Do you love a God that you don’t trust with your heart? Do you trust a God that you don’t feel a tender love and affection for? No, you don’t. Trust in God and love for God are inextricably bound together, and God longs for us to love him back.

There are probably many reasons why your faith matters so much to God, but here are the two big reasons:

1. Your faith reflects the way you see God.

2. Your faith is directly tied to your love for God.

No wonder God tells us, “And without faith it is impossible to please him.”