What does Romans 11:36 mean?

Paul concludes Romans 11 and his hymn about God's vastness with this verse. Paul declares in no uncertain terms that the universe belongs to God, and we're simply living in it, and part of it.

Paul builds on the question he asked in the previous verse: Who has given anything to God valuable enough that God owes him something back? The answer is nobody. God doesn't owe us anything. In this verse, Paul explains why. Everything that is in the universe came from God to start with. He is the Creator and the source of all that is good. How could we ever give Him anything He doesn't already have?

Second, all things are through God. This means that not only is God the source of all things, He holds them together. He sustains everything that is. He is active and present in the work of keeping the universe running. All things that exist continue through Him.

Third, all things are to Him or for Him. In other words, everything that exists has been made for God's purposes. They all reflect glory back to Him. Nothing exists that doesn't serve His great plan and purpose for all things.

Paul finishes his hymn with statement of great worship: To God be glory forever. This is both a statement of fact and a prayer for its fulfillment. Glory will flow to God forever, and Paul affirms that is exactly as it should be in the form of a prayer. He ends this section of his letter with a formal "amen," meaning "so be it" or "let it be so."