"The friendship of God" of Saint Irenaeus, bishop

Our Lord, Word of God, first led men to serve God, then made them his friends as servants, as he himself said to his disciples: «I no longer call you servants, because the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all that I have heard from the Father I have made known to you "(Jn 15:15). God's friendship grants immortality to those who dispose of it duly.
In the beginning, God shaped Adam not because he needed man, but to have someone to whom he could bestow his benefits. Indeed, the Word glorified the Father, always remaining in him, not only before Adam, but also before every creation. He himself declared it: "Father, glorify me before you, with that glory that I had with you before the world was" (Jn 17: 5).
He commanded us to follow him not because he needed our service, but to give ourselves salvation. In fact, following the Savior is participating in salvation, as following the light means being surrounded by light.
Who is in the light is certainly not him to illuminate the light and make it shine, but it is the light that illuminates him and makes him bright. He gives nothing to light, but it is from it that he receives the benefit of splendor and all other advantages.
This is also true of service to God: it does not bring anything to God, and on the other hand God does not need the service of men; but to those who serve and follow him he gives eternal life, incorruptibility and glory. He grants his benefits to those who serve him for the fact that they serve him, and to those who follow him for the fact that they follow him, but he does not benefit from them.
God seeks the service of men to have the opportunity, he who is good and merciful, to pour out his benefits on those who persevere in his service. While God needs nothing, man needs communion with God.
The glory of man consists in persevering in the service of God. And for this reason the Lord said to his disciples: "You did not choose me, but I chose you" (Jn 15:16), thus showing that they were not the ones who glorify him by following him, but who, by the fact that they followed the Son of God, were glorified by him. And again: "I want those who you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may contemplate my glory" (Jn 17:24).