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Wants and Needs |
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by Tom Gilbert 2003
This will start out sounding abstract, but
it really isn’t. We all have wants and needs. I would guess that most of us
concentrate on the wants. For myself, I’ve often had
little comprehension of what my needs truly are.
In life we will constantly run into situations
where our wants are not met. Despite this, it is quite
remarkable how often our needs are met. Think about it. What do you really
need in life? Food, shelter, health, money, family, and friends
— these rank pretty high on most people’s lists. What
is underlying these “needs”? Is it not happiness?
And what is the root of happiness? Is it not love and acceptance?
The spiritual path reveals a different
understanding of wants and needs. What the world tells
us we should want the spiritual life shows us is mostly a sham. We don’t
really need a new car or the latest big screen television.
We typically eat more than we need. Oh, yes, of course there
are people who are truly in need of a meal, a home, a job
and many of the things taken for granted by the over-commercialized
society we live in. For those of you who are not part of
this Western world where commerce and materialism rule please
don’t feel indicted.
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Blessed are the Poor and Meek
I hope you examine closely what your wants and needs are.
It is important to learn to differentiate between the two. Human
nature “wants” it all. God wants for us to be happy,
joyous and free. God knows what we really need.
Why is it that many people living without all the trappings of success
(as measured by our false system of wants and needs)
appear to be so happy, so joyous…so free?
Maybe it is because they don’t have the opportunity to be trapped like we do. If you are simply
grateful for a little food, a smile, a bit of kindness and security from the elements
then the really important things matter more.
I’m afraid too many of us have it all backwards.
Years ago a song by the Rolling Stones contained the profound statement, “You can’t
always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you
need”. Sure, it was a catchy tune. And I’m not holding
up the Stones as a model of righteous living. Not any more than
I would put myself in that precarious position. We are all faulty.
However, that statement contains some significant truth.
It seems that everything that I’ve ever really needed
came about by doing things I didn’t want to do at the
time. I’m not normally excited about humility, tolerance
for those I find irritating, or working hard for some unseen
payoff far down the road. Rarely do I jump to the unpleasant
task of closely and honestly examining my faults. If I do I’ll
rapidly see where I am lacking in generosity and kindness. Hey,
I like to think about myself as a pretty good guy! What is the
motive behind that? If it is recognition and approval – money,
power and prestige – then once again I am on a slippery slope.
Over and over gifts of happiness, joy and satisfaction have come directly from doing for others, for
putting someone else’s needs ahead of mine.
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Baffling, Isn’t It?
This can all seem counterintuitive. If
it does, then you have a wonderful opportunity to change,
to recognize that the reality that you (like me) has accepted for much of your
life is false. It’s not who dies with the most toys.
It’s not even getting your own way most of the time,
even when your motives are good.
Does this mean we must all sit around with long faces and
accept our lot in life? No, rather than sitting on our pity
pots we need to get busy. There are things to do, people
to help, and life to live!
Zig Ziglar is known as a pretty good salesman, speaker and motivator. He’s got some funny stories and a serious
message under it all. He’s fond of saying “you
can get anything you want in life if you just help enough
other people get what they want”. I’m not sure
if that is completely true. Nevertheless, I do believe that
Jesus was speaking truth when he said that the first will
be last, that anyone who wants to be in a position of authority
must be willing to serve and that love is always an action, not just a sentiment.
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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout
the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for
the offering of goods or services requires the prior written
consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All
rights reserved.
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PHILIPPIANS
4:19
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"And my God will meet all your needs according to
his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
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(NIV)
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