|
Author, Yvette Jones,
and her husband, Nathaniel Jones, of the New Orleans Inner City
Outreach Ministry
THE NEEDFUL THING
How
often do we ponder the phrases; I need a better job, I need more
money, I need a bigger house, I need a good husband and obedient
children? I need, I need, I need! Oh God help me. I need so many
things! Sounds familiar? Well, many of us have had our moments of
needing better, more, and bigger things. It's part of our human
nature to need, to want, and to long for the physical comforts
this world has to offer.
In Matthew 6:25, Jesus
says, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what
you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is
not life more important than food, and the body more important
than clothes?" There is nothing wrong with wanting better things
and desiring to improve our situation in life. God, our Father,
wants good things for us. We are His children. What parent doesn't
want the best for his child? However, material things ought not
be our primary reason for existing. They are only temporary.
James 4:13-14 says,
"Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year
there, carry on business, and make money. Why, you do not even
know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist
that appears for a little while and then vanishes." Jesus wants
more from us. He wants our undivided attention. He want us to put
Him first in our lives. He wants us to know that He is in control
and that He is God.
Remember the story of
Mary and Martha? Luke 10:38-40. Martha was consumed with preparing
a meal for Jesus, and she had no help from her sister Mary. Mary
instead desired to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn about God's
word. In other words, Martha's priority was the meal, but Mary's
priority was the Master. Jesus' gentle rebuke of Martha tells us
that we ought not to become overwhelmed with "doing" or with the
things of this life to the point that it interferes with spending
precious time with the Master.
Our "needs" are often
confused with our "desires". In reality many of the things that we
need are actually desires borne out of our perception of how
things ought to be. So then we qualify our wants and desires as
needs. You may say, wait a minute; desire, need, want, they're all
the same! But are they? Let's look at this example: Your car has
just died, and you have to go to work. City transportation won't
work for you because the bus connections aren't good. Now you say,
I need another car. Well, maybe you do, but do you need a Hummer,
or do you just want one? Get the picture?
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus
says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness,
and these things shall be added unto you." The emphasis is placed
on the kingdom first. This takes priority over the "needs" of this
world. The "needful thing" is that we reserve time to be in His
presence, that we make Him a priority in our lives, and not become
distracted or preoccupied with the things that we are doing. Jesus
should not be an after-thought in our lives, but our fore-thought.
Our fore-thought in our daily activities, major decisions, our
waking hours, and at night's sleep.
by
Yvette Jones
This
article is copyrighted by the author. All Rights Reserved. No part
of this article may be reprinted without permission of the author.
©Copyright 2003
|
