"It was not because God needed man that he first formed Adam; he was
simply looking for recipients who might receive his benefits.  Not simply
before Adam was made, but even before any created being whatever existed,
the Word was in the Father and gave glory to him, and the Word himself
was glorified by the Father as he himself said: Father, glorify me with
the glory which I had with you before the world was made.

When he told us to follow him, it was not that he needed our service but
that he wanted to bestow salvation upon us.  To follow the Saviour is to
share in salvation; and to follow the light is to perceive the light.

Those who are in the light, do not themselves cause the light but rather
they are lit up by it.  They do not help the light but the are helped and
illuminated by it.

Similarly, our service to God does not mean that we provide him with
anything for he does not need our submission to him.  He gives life
beyond death and eternal glory to those who follow and serve him.  He
does this for his servants because they serve him, for his followers
because they follow him, but he receives nothing in return.  He is rich
in everything, he is perfect, he needs nothing from us.

The reason why God seeks the service of men is that, good and merciful as
he is, he wishes to bestow blessings on those who persevere in his
service.  God stands in no need of anyone else, but man stands completely
in need of God.

This is man's glory-to remain steadfast in the service of God.  Therefore
the Lord said to his disciples:  You did not choose me, but I chose you.
He implied that they did not give glory by following him but that,
because they did follow the Son of God, the disciples were glorified by
him.  In another place he says: I wish that, where I am, they may also be
so that they may see my glory."

-Irenaeus