What do you need?

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?,’ for the pagans seek after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matt 6

“And my God will fulfill your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4

Psalm 91, yeah, the whole thing.

i feel i need to talk a bit about need.  It has become very vogue to quote Second Opinions, “God may not always give you what you want, but he always gives you what you need.”  (A paraphrase of the psalms of Jagger.) and standing alone like this, the quote is just fine and can stand tall and proud and while it may not be Scripture, Scriptures certainly supports it.  

IF you know what God means by ‘need.’  

Maybe take a minute to write down a list of all of your needs.  Go.  

No, seriously, do it.

Okay, all done?  Let’s take a look.  Depending on how pedantic you are, i’m guessing the big three are on there: Air, Water, Food, after that Maslow would add, Shelter, Community, then we get into First World concerns like Education, Fulfilling Work, Purpose, Happiness, Successful Children, a Boat, a She-shed, a Beach House, a Republican controlled congress or a serious Democratic contender for 2020, a Pony, more Money in the retirement account.  Nice list.  Maybe you're sick and need healing?  Or your wife to love you?  Or your child to come home?  Who would not call these 'needs'?  Were there any theology students out there?  Did anyone write down, “Forgiveness of Sins”?  “Peace with God”?  “A Savior”?

Jesus did, “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are healthy do not have need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”  Luke 5

“And behold, they brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher, and when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”  Matt 9

“Jesus replied to him, “Unless I wash you, you do not have a share with me.”” John 13

“I have said these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but have courage! I have conquered the world.”  John 16

Everyone who has ever died, even Christians, has needed life.  Everyone who was ever starving, even Christians, needed food.  Everyone who was ever dehydrated, even Christians, needed water.  Everyone who was ever drowning, yep, even Christians, needed air.  The paralytic needed healing and yes, Jesus healed many people.  And yes, Jesus fed many people.  And yes, Jesus, as the rock in the desert, gave water to many people.  And yes, Jesus even raised people from the dead.  But every one of those people died.  They were thirsty again.  They were hungry again.  They got sick again.  It’s not that Jesus couldn’t fix these things permanently, he is God, of course he can.  He chose not to.  That was not the point of the miracles.  Jesus didn’t come to meet or abolish all physical “needs,” he came to deal with our real need.  The same need we’ve had since the Garden.  Adam and Eve weren’t going to live forever because their bodies were perfect, they needed to eat to live just the same as you or i.  

“And Yahweh God said, “Look—the man has become as one of us, to know good and evil. What if he stretches out his hand and takes also from the tree of life and eats, and lives forever?”  Gen 3

Adam and Eve would live forever because the Tree of Life was there!  The Tree which does what all miracles do, point to Jesus, the true Tree of Life!  It is only connected to Jesus that we can live!  It is only through him that we can know what life is!  It is only in him that we can be right with God!  The only thing we really need, the only need we have, is God!  A right relationship with the Father and the only way to have that is through the Son!  If you have the Son, you have the Father and you literally, have no other true Needs!  You can have lots of desires and that’s fine, bring them to the Father, he loves you but bring them with a grateful heart!  Rejoice!  Give thanks!  Your God has supplied all your needs!