The Daily Blade

Episode #194: Joby Martin // God Created You for Glory, Not Because He Needed You

Hosts: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson
Date: September 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Daily Blade explores the foundational purpose of man from a biblical perspective. Pastor Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson delve into why God created humanity—not out of need or loneliness, but for His glory—and how men can live out this purpose today. The hosts discuss the significance of work as part of God’s original design, its spiritual value, and the responsibilities entrusted to men as image bearers. The conversation encourages listeners to embrace work not just as a means to an end, but as a calling integral to glorifying God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Did God Create Man?

• God’s Motivation in Creation
  • Joby dispels the common misconception that God created man out of need or loneliness.
  • Quote:
    “Did God create men because he needed us? The answer is no. Was he lonely, walking around in heaven thinking, man, I got all this time and space. What do I do with it? The answer is no.”
    — Joby Martin [00:22]
  • Creation is the overflow of God’s love for Himself, creating image bearers (men and women) to reflect His glory.
• The Ultimate Purpose
  • “The purpose of man is to bring glory to God.” — Joby Martin [00:46]

2. How Do We Glorify God?

• Post-Resurrection Mandates
  • The Great Commission (Matthew 28): “Go and make disciples of all nations.”
  • The Great Commandment: “Love God and love people.”
  • However, before sin entered the world, the way to glorify God was living fully as His image bearers.
• Original Design in Genesis
  • The hosts set the stage for a three-part exploration (over coming days), beginning with what God gives to man in the Garden of Eden.

3. Created for Adventure and Purpose

• Adam’s Setting
  • Adam was created outside the Garden, in the wilderness, drawing an important distinction.
  • Insightful reference to John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart:
    • The wildness in men reflects God’s own adventurous spirit.
    • “Maybe this is why we come alive in the outdoors. We come alive in the wilderness. We come alive in the adventure because we were created in the wild.” — Joby Martin [02:23]

4. God Gave Man Work to Enjoy

• First Gift: Work
  • Genesis 2:15: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”
  • Work is not a curse or a result of the Fall. Work is a God-given mandate.
  • The “cultural mandate”: Men are called to subdue, cultivate, and create for human flourishing.
  • “Work is not a result of the fall. Work is a part of God's original design for man.” — Joby Martin [03:36]
• Personal Story: Calling to Ministry
  • Joby recalls telling his father about his calling to ministry, leading to a humorous but profound dialogue:
    • His dad: “Boy, what's seminary?”
    • “You don't get up and go to fun. You get up and go to work.” — Joby Martin’s father [04:04]
• Sacred-Secular Divide Debunked
  • All honest work—whether building houses or preaching—is sacred.
  • “From God's perspective, there is no sacred secular divide when it comes to work. It's not like what I do is holy because I teach the Bible for a living. But what you do is somehow less than because you build houses.” — Joby Martin [04:17]
• Work as Worship
  • Listeners are urged to view daily labor as participation in God's advancing kingdom.
  • “You're not just building a house out of sticks and bricks but God is using you to create an environment whereby He can raise up a family.” — Joby Martin [04:53]

5. A Warning and a Challenge

• Purpose vs. Passion
  • The world encourages “following your passion,” but Joby reframes this:
    • “Passion” is rooted in sacrifice (“to die on a cross, to crucify, to bleed for”).
    • “You need to figure out what God has called you to do in this world and be a part of the advancement of his kingdom by working as unto the Lord.” — Joby Martin [05:10]
• Men and Responsibility
  • Quote from Joby’s father:
    “Men are like flatbed trucks. They drive straighter with a heavy load. And a bored man is a dangerous, dangerous thing.”
    — Joby Martin [05:00]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The purpose of man is to bring glory to God.” — Joby Martin [00:46]
• “Maybe this is why we come alive in the outdoors... because we were created in the wild.” — Joby Martin [02:23]
• “Work is a part of God's original design for man.” — Joby Martin [03:36]
• “You don't get up and go to fun. You get up and go to work.” — Joby Martin’s father [04:04]
• “There is no sacred secular divide when it comes to work.” — Joby Martin [04:17]
• “Men are like flatbed trucks. They drive straighter with a heavy load.” — Joby Martin’s father [05:00]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:22 — Dispelling myths about God’s motivation in creating man
• 00:46 — Stating the ultimate purpose: to glorify God
• 01:23 — Distinguishing pre-fall and post-fall mandates
• 02:23 — Adam created in the wild; John Eldredge reference
• 03:36 — Work as part of God’s original design, not a curse
• 04:04 — Personal story and fatherly wisdom (“You don’t get up and go to fun…”)
• 04:17 — No sacred/secular divide in work
• 05:00 — “Men are like flatbed trucks”
• 05:10 — Challenge to find God’s calling and work as worship

Conclusion

This episode sets the foundation for a three-part exploration on what God grants man for His glory, beginning with the high calling of work. Listeners are encouraged to see their daily labor—whatever form it takes—as a fundamental part of living out their created purpose, reflecting the image of a creative and purposeful God.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where Joby and Kyle will continue unpacking how men can live for God’s glory.