Sometimes I look to someone else to meet my needs. I begin demanding that they fill them. Yet no human being can meet my true needs. Only God can. When I come to Him with my needs, He often reveals to me that my needs are just desires and preferences. All I truly need is what God provides. Only He can satisfy me. Anything less will come up empty, less than expected, and short-lived.
My sense of Need can turn into Greed.
“Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because life is not in the abundance of his possessions,” said Jesus (Lk. 12:15). My needs can grow exponentially to the point where I greedily seek to fill them myself or force others to fill them for me.
Jesus told the parable of the man who had a great harvest. He decided to build bigger barns to “store up treasure for himself, … and not toward God” (v. 21). Why is it that when our needs have been abundantly met, we don’t think about filling someone else’s needs? Instead, we think we need to grab our blessings close so we’ll have it later when we need it. “Mine!” This sounds like the opposite of what the Christian life should look like! We’re supposed to seek those things above, setting our minds on things above, not on earthly things. Christ is my life! (Colossians 3:1-4)
In Luke 12, I see this comparison:
LIFE IS MORE THAN . . .
– Looking perfect (vv. 1-3)
– Protecting my body (vv. 4-7)
– Protecting my reputation (vv. 8-12)
– Having a life filled with possessions and ease (vv. 13-21)
– Having all my needs met
– Eating good food, wearing nice clothes, providing for my own needs (vv. 22-34)
LIFE IS ABOUT . . .
– Alertly waiting for Jesus’ return (vv. 35-40)
– Serving others (v. 33)
– Ministering in such a way as to invest in heavenly treasures (vv. 31-34, 42-44)
– Faithfully and responsibly doing the job God has give me (vv. 41-48)
What is my life all about today? Am I worried about what others can do to me? Am I consumed with things that are out of my control?
Lord, teach me to trust You more! Help me keep the main thing the main thing. Thank You for spelling out what life should look like. Forgive me for seeking to fill my needs by myself, instead of looking to You. I love You!