12/05/2020
Do we know the difference between what we want, and what we actually need? When we are in prayer do we ask our Father for trivial things that would make people envious of us but do little to bring Him glory, or serve His purpose and will? How often is our precious time of prayer consumed by frivolous pleading for gold, a fine home, a new automobile, or some other worldly possession that is meant to satisfy our desires alone? Our God provides for us from his heavenly riches, and our needs are provided through Jesus Christ who owned no donkey, no house, and only wore a fine robe once... as he was being mocked before His crucifixion. So ask yourself again... “What are my needs?”
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 ESV
When I was a young man preparing to take Ann as my wife, I realized that I had to have certain things if I were to marry. To provide for her basic needs I would need some form of income. I realized that we would need food, shelter, and at very least clothing, but in today’s society I would also need other things... like a dependable means of getting to and from work, and a skill of some sort. When we fell in love and started hoping and dreaming of marriage and of starting a family together, we had little to nothing. I had an old beat up car, and we had the clothes on our backs. But aside from these few tangible things we had little else other than our love and faith. Reviewing this list of what we had wouldn’t take long, but the greatest of our possessions was love, and faith.
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV
So we prayed... not to have a glorious high paying job, and great wealth, but for subsistence; a job that would provide enough money that we could survive as we loved one another. We prayed that the Lord would put shelter over our heads, and keep us clothed, and that my old car would continue to run. Our prayers were incredibly basic, and meant to support two things... our love for God, each other, and our faith in Jesus Christ. By praying in this way God met our needs as He had promised, and we were rich beyond measure in love and happiness.
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:31-34 ESV
So it was that we started our lives together leaning on God, and trusting in His provision, and he was true to His Word; all of our needs were met, and as our love and faith grew, the increase he blessed us with grew too. I had obtained a skill in computers and promotions came with regularity. We bought our first little house. I sold my old car and purchased a much newer one from Ann’s father. Blessings abounded, and continued through the years, but looking back over all that God has done for us during these forty four years together... all of the children, grandchildren, and every form of wonderful increase, I realize that we were never happier than during those years when we leaned mightily on the Lord, and He gave us our simplest of basic needs.
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!”
Psalm 84:11-12 ESV
Now let’s return to the original question I asked that you pose to yourself “What are my needs?” Have you answered that question yet? Have you come to the conclusion that what the world would have you believe to be a need is often nothing more than a selfish desire, and that the more you use the basic needs that God has provided you to glorify Himself, then the more He will bless you, and entrust you with?
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for providing those things we need in order to survive in this life, and to glorify you. We thank you for every bite of food you place in our mouths, whether we glean it from a harvested field, receive it in a food kitchen, or you feed us at a grand banquet. We thank you for the box, the shanty, the apartment, the bungalow, or the mansion you have chosen to shelter us with. We thank you for clothing us Father, whether in rags, simple clothes, or a king’s robe. We pray that you provide us with those things that you know are truly our needs, and that if we have been selfish in our prayers, that you will teach us where we have strayed in our desires. We trust in you to give us these things, our needs, and that they be for your glory, and to gather souls to you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who gives us peace and joy in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, and provides those things needed to sustain us there. We praise your name Lord for using us to do your will, and win souls to you. We pray that we will be satisfied in whatever station you desire that we occupy, and that you will give us your joy and happiness there. Help us not to want more than we need at any given moment, and that as you bless us with increases, that we will always glorify you. Allow us to look back on the road we have travelled with you, and thank you for your love and provision whether we were wandering in a wilderness, traversing a valley, or standing high upon a mountain. Love us always Lord, and strengthen our love for you. Never let our desires cloud our belief in you, keep us from doing your will, or cause our faith in Jesus to be eclipsed by worldly desires. Wash us continually in the blood of Jesus so that on the day of judgement you will be justified in saying “This is my true and faithful child who has glorified me, has been obedient to my Word/will, faithful to my Son, glorified me, and has always been thankful for my every provision.”
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV
Rich Forbes