"•••• Allah sets forth parables for men in order that they may receive admonition “ (Q14: 25)
"Allah sets forth. the parable (of two men, one) a slave under the dominion of another; he has no power of any sort; and (the other) a man on whom We have bestowed goodly favours from Ourselves and he spends thereof (freely), privately and publicty. Are these two equal? (by no means) Praise be to Allah, but most of them know not." (Q16:75).
Most people do not understand this simple thing that while they feel and carefully observe the distincton between those who have powers and those who are powerless (how the latter is humbled before the former): they neither feel nor observe the clear distinction between the creature and His creatures. That is why men associate the creatures with the Creator in His attributes and powers and accords the allegiance that is the exclusive right O Allah, the Creator, to such creatures. The pity is that in their everyday life, they would beg for something from the master of a house and not from the servant but when it comes to devotion, they would beg for their needs from the servants of Allah and not from Him, the Master.
The masters men have besides Allah and upon whom they depend have no independent existence they are men who can do nothing of their own authority but are subject to the Will and power of Allah; the second alludes to the position of Allah, the self.