Why does God guarantee that we play our role as humans even though we rely on divine providence?

God requires humanity to play its role for two reasons: it is a precious gift from God; and it affirms God’s friendship with humanity. God cooperates with His beloved human beings, even though they are incapable of any good work by themselves, without His grace and care.

The scholar Origen says that man “is capable of considering and admiring all things (as co-operating with Providence).”⁵³⁵ Abba Paphnutius says, “But it is well for us to be sure that although we practise every virtue with unceasing efforts, yet with all our exertions and zeal we can never arrive at perfection, nor is mere human diligence and toil of itself sufficient to deserve to reach the splendid reward of bliss, unless we have secured it by means of the co-operation of the Lord, and His directing our heart to what is right.”⁵³⁶