needs and wants

Today in the One Year Bible, we're reminded how faithful God is to provide for our needs in the reading from Luke 22:35-53.

Jesus sent out the disciples with very little on them - no money, bag, or extra sandals. And they needed nothing - everything they needed was provided for them.

Then He sent them out again, and this time He sent them with money, bag, and even swords. And they needed them this time.

So the easy lesson here, of course, is that we can trust God to provide the things we need when we need them. We can stop worrying because He will take care of us.

The deeper lesson is to learn what the difference is between a need and a want. Most of the things we want today we've probably picked up from advertising or from seeing what other people have. In other words, our desires are skewed. We can't trust them. One thing I've learned along the way is that if there's something I think I want, I kind of set it aside for awhile... a week or two... and see if the desire comes back. If it does, I pray about it, and see if I feel like He's leading me to get it or not. Most of the time, during that week, the desire for the new flashy thing goes away. And then I realize I don't really want or need it. It might be good to ask Him to separate your needs and your wants, and help you learn which is which. There are some things that might seem silly and trivial, but that He does want in your life for some reason. And there are other things that might seem absolutely necessary, but when you pray about them, you realize you didn't really need them at all.

God, thanks for helping us discern what our needs are - and what our wants might be. Help us want what You want.