Distinguishing between wants and needs isn’t easy for children. And sometimes not even for adults.
When I was young, many of my perceived needs were actually wants. Just any bike wouldn’t do. I needed a Schwinn that sported a banana seat and high handlebars. Nor would any pair of shoes suffice. They had to be high-top Converse tennis shoes. And when it came to blue jeans, nothing but a Levi tag was good enough. Later in life-when I began footing my own bills, I discovered generic brands wore just as well and off brand bikes rode just as smoothly.
Paul discovered how to live with everything and with almost nothing. His stomach had been full and empty. He had been at the summit of the religious establishment and manacled to a guard in a Roman jail. But through his various circumstances, he learned the art of contentment regardless of the conditions and how to trust God for every need. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
Living life to the fullest initially entails learning to distinguish needs from wants. God obligates himself to meet the first but not the second. Wealth isn’t a sign of God’s blessings anymore than poverty is of his curse. Once we’ve accomplished this often confusing task, trusting God to supply the necessities-and thanking him when he throws in a few wants along the way, follows. Regardless of how many material goods we have or don’t have, we’ll always possess enough to sustain life and energetically accomplish what God assigns us. Worrying about needs only steals our life’s joy. Give your needs to God and leave the details to him.
Prayer: Thank You merciful heavenly Father for promising to supply our every need.
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