Is there power in not wanting? Is there a difference in a need and a want? What does God consider a need and want? Do wants and needs change as we mature in Christ Jesus?
I may "want" a Toyota 4Runner or a FJ Cruiser but God says your "need" for a vehicle can be met with a used Toyota Corolla. I may "want" a large flat screen TV with surround sound and endless selection of movies to watch from Netflix but is that what I really need? We may "want" a lot of things but what is the basic "need" that needs to be met? Is television really a need or a want? Is a cell phone really a need or a want? Is all that texting more a "need" or a "want"?
Sometimes our "wants" can take us away from more meaningful experiences with our family, friends and others God puts in our path. We can be so busy doing this and that "want" - that we don't even see what really matters in life. We live in a culture that tells us what we "need" when in fact it isn't a need at all but a way to manipulate us to "want" something. They make us feel like everyone has it so we need it too! Think about that for a second. We have to have that "thing", that emotion, that experience and so on. Is that coveting?
THEY HAVE IT WE NEED IT TOO
But that is not true. I have been to third world countries where people don't have televisions, don't have cellphones, and may not even have a car. Their primitive homes are not filled with material objects but hospitality and love. They share what little they have with us who have abundance. Cookies and some soda pop are graciously given without any second thought. They shared what is a special treat with us without a motive of getting something in return. They had so little but they were not concerned if they had enough for tomorrow- they were just grateful for what they had for that day and they shared it. They knew God would meet their need.
We strive so hard to gain and earn and scrap together. We stress ourselves out to live just beyond our means -to hold up to some human standard of what we think is "the good life." What we think we need. We want more and more until the gravity of the wants make us a slave to them. I don't know about you but I don't want to keep up with the Jones or anyone else. I just want to live within my means which probably is still more then I really need. Do we realize and understand the difference between a want and need?
Jesus says "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:24-33
"Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!" Ecclesiastes 5:10
Psalm 23:1-6 A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You [are] with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
Again, is there power in not wanting? Is there a difference in a need and a want? What does God consider a need and want? Do wants and needs change as we mature in Christ Jesus?
I may "want" a Toyota 4Runner or a FJ Cruiser but God says your "need" for a vehicle can be met with a used Toyota Corolla. I may "want" a large flat screen TV with surround sound and endless selection of movies to watch from Netflix but is that what I really need? We may "want" a lot of things but what is the basic "need" that needs to be met? Is television really a need or a want? Is a cell phone really a need or a want? Is all that texting more a "need" or a "want"?
Sometimes our "wants" can take us away from more meaningful experiences with our family, friends and others God puts in our path. We can be so busy doing this and that "want" - that we don't even see what really matters in life. We live in a culture that tells us what we "need" when in fact it isn't a need at all but a way to manipulate us to "want" something. They make us feel like everyone has it so we need it too! Think about that for a second. We have to have that "thing", that emotion, that experience and so on. Is that coveting?
THEY HAVE IT WE NEED IT TOO
But that is not true. I have been to third world countries where people don't have televisions, don't have cellphones, and may not even have a car. Their primitive homes are not filled with material objects but hospitality and love. They share what little they have with us who have abundance. Cookies and some soda pop are graciously given without any second thought. They shared what is a special treat with us without a motive of getting something in return. They had so little but they were not concerned if they had enough for tomorrow- they were just grateful for what they had for that day and they shared it. They knew God would meet their need.
We strive so hard to gain and earn and scrap together. We stress ourselves out to live just beyond our means -to hold up to some human standard of what we think is "the good life." What we think we need. We want more and more until the gravity of the wants make us a slave to them. I don't know about you but I don't want to keep up with the Jones or anyone else. I just want to live within my means which probably is still more then I really need. Do we realize and understand the difference between a want and need?
Jesus says "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:24-33
"Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!" Ecclesiastes 5:10
Psalm 23:1-6 A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You [are] with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants
to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross,
and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you
give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you
gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:24-26
So I guess in a way we can technically win the version of life we "wanted" but "lose" in the end because we didn't live the life we needed to live.Again, is there power in not wanting? Is there a difference in a need and a want? What does God consider a need and want? Do wants and needs change as we mature in Christ Jesus?
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