What we need is more important than what we want!
It’s what we hear all the time, right?
We have to take of what we need before the things that we “merely” want.
Even as Christians – we learn the God will give us what we need – whether we want it or not,
but not necessarily the things we want – because we don’t need them.
That’s wrong!
It’s so wrong!
Maybe you know what I’m talking about,
Maybe you’re wondering what I’m talking about.
Maybe you think I’m wrong.
But hear me out first.
Check this out –
Mt 4:18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
Mt 8:18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Mt 8:20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Mt 8:21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
Mt 8:22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Mt 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Mt 10:37 “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Mt 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”
Mt 19:21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Jn 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Jn 10:25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Jn 12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”
Jn 21:22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
Just in case you didn’t quite catch what was going on there, these were each of the times that Jesus called someone to follow Him. I removed the duplicates from the various Gospels – so this represents each individual time Jesus called someone. Notice – He never kidnapped anyone. Never threatened anyone to get them to follow Him. It was always voluntary.
Same thing with the Father. And with the Holy Spirit. God will give us the chance to love Him – to follow Him. Or not. Our choice.
What we see then is that we all need God. We all need Jesus. We all need the Holy Spirit.
But, we will only have them in our lives – if we want them.
Want is more important than need.
So we see that in the case of having God in our lives – it’s what we want that matters.
Jesus died for all of us – but only those that accept His sacrifice – that accept Him – that want Him will have Him.
That’s how we moved from “good news for all” to when Jesus said – “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,”
The many – those are the people who wanted Jesus.
Even after we accept Jesus, we have the same issue with the Holy Spirit.
While He would very much like to be given control of everything in our lives – the Holy Spirit will not forcibly take that control.
We have to want Him to have it.
Want takes precedence over need.
Want continues to be important
How about after that? After we’ve decided to follow Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Then what?
Do we all of a sudden give up what we want – and accept only what we need?
Not really.
Now – the goal is to have what we want match up with what we need. To align our wills with God.
We see an example of that way back in 2 Chronicles.
2Ch 1:1 Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.
…
2Ch 1:7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
2Ch 1:8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
2Ch 1:11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
God offers to give Solomon whatever he wants.
Solomon asks for what he needs in order to do what God has in mind for him. His desire aligned with God’s.
God gave Solomon what he asked for. And so much more.
Want is still important.
From Jesus, we see –
John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
What we want aligns with what we need. And when we ask in that manner – it will be given to us. And so much more. Eternally.
Conclusion
What we need is more important than what we want!
The statement is wrong.
The image at the top is wrong.
Initially – when we invite God into our lives – it’s what we want that’s the key.
After that – it’s aligning what we want with what we need that becomes the goal.
And when we do that – we received more than we ever imagined.
Jn 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Life to the full.
More than if we stuck only with what we wanted, but never wanted God.
Life to the full.
More than if we invite Jesus into our lives – but then were happy with the bare minimum.
Life to the full.
when we invite Jesus and the Holy Spirit into our lives –
align our will with theirs – allowing them control over more and more of our lives –
then we truly have the adventure of a lifetime.
Life to the full.
Because we wanted it and asked for it.