The ultimate no had to be that of Satan’s “non servum,” “I will not serve.” When God revealed his plan for man it caused the prideful in Heaven to rebel.
God would lower himself and become man, in the person of Jesus, in order to raise man up to God. This caused scandal as, in the order of creation, the Angels were created in a higher state of being than man. Man could then be on equal, or higher, status than Angels, and the Angels would serve, God in human form, in the completion of God’s plan.
Satan refused to serve a being created lower than himself through pride, Satan, and his followers, rebelled with the statement “I will not serve.” St. Michael, who’s name means “Who is like unto God,” stepped forward, waged war with Satan, and cast him from heaven.
When we refuse to serve we are serving self and the pride of self.
