Needs and Wants

I just have to say, I am appalled. I spent an afternoon out running errands, focused through the lens of a previous Sunday's sermon. Our pastor had been talking about contentment - and discontentment. The point that was driven home is that the only things that satisfy come from God... the worldly things - may feel good briefly - but don't truly satisfy.

Everywhere I turned, I saw people out searching... for contentment.... through stuff.

I suppose that is only part of my dismay. Not only are we looking at the wrong source for contentment, but there is also a total lack of insight to what we truly DO have. How blessed we TRULY are. At Wal*mart, I overheard a woman say, "My kids have nothing..." "Nothing" by our American standard is often unimaginable wealth elsewhere in the world! (Don't get me started on the things we WASTE!)

I truly need: food, shelter, clothing, and a purpose. Everything else is a want. Even within the "needs" categories, there are things I don't NEED. I don't need 8 pairs of jeans. I don't need a huge house. I don't need to have or be "the best". Like the lilies of the fields and the birds of the air. Their needs are met... and so are mine.

Yes, I have wants... and some of those are met as well. But they aren't needs, and if I focus on the "wants" too long, I take my eyes off of Him. I find myself focused on an unending list of things that don't truly satisfy, rather than looking at the gift I have already been given!

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me. Thank You, thank You, thank You!!