Resources & Sufficient

I have begun to ask myself is it a want or a need. As a matter of fact, I have it posted on my frig. I look around and see God’s goodness for me everywhere. He provides for my every want. Or better said he fulfills my needs. Do we really need that new car, or can we repair it and make it last? Or do I need to eat a steak or will a homemade burger work? I hope we all see the difference. Most people have everything they need. Yes, we want more or better. But I will ask do we really need it?

I have spent my whole life chasing an “elusive butterfly” not truly realizing that I have every want provided for by God. And as I look to the future, I am beginning to understand that possessions and passions, though pleasant, cannot fulfill our true desires, just like the woman at the well. Jesus told her that she would always thirst unless she sought him. Isn’t that what we are doing – thirsting? We are trying to fill a void, an emptiness, a thirst for something that will satisfy us. And all we need to do is look for fulfillment within him.

Our needs are provided to us by God. He gives us the sun to warm our bodies whether we may like it or not at times. He gives us our five senses so that we can taste, see, smell, hear, and touch so that we can experience these sensations. We have our emotions so that we can express and feel different facets of life.

For me, these are all important. Also, he gives others so that we are not alone. Notice I said alone, not lonely. Loneliness is an emotion which we all share. It tells us that there is something more for us. We can choose to fill the void however we wish. I would hope that we would ask why we feel lonely. Are we wanting something more? Are we feeling lonely because we want what we feel that others have? Those are all mirages. We will never be satisfied with the things of this world. We will always want more. I am not saying wanting is bad. However, it should not be our focus.

When the Israelites were in the desert, they grumbled. They had expected so much more and failed to realize that God had plans for so much more. They wanted the past. They wanted the food they ate in Egypt. They thought that God was leading them away to perish. They had little faith in God’s provision. They wanted something more. And God provided. He gave them manna.

Part of being satisfied is realizing and trusting that God does provide for us. He does give us the resources we need, not always to our desires as the Israelites wanted. But he cares for us. He is always with us. We may not have the grandest or newest possession. But we have what we need, and we have him. We should be happy with all the gifts he gives us while we are on earth with the expectation of something greater to come.

#resources #provisions