PASTOR JOHN COLLINS DAILY THOUGHTS: NEED VS WANT

Pastor John Collins writes:

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’”  Matthew 19:23-24 (NKJV).

How much money does it take for a person to be considered rich?  How big does their home need to be?  How much does their car need to cost?  And how much clothes and how many pairs of shoes does a person need to own in order to be considered rich?  What about computers, cell phones and other pricey conveniences of today, are these considered when thinking about wealth? 

We live in a world that has created generations of entitled, demanding and unsatisfied people.  Does anyone even know the difference between what we want and what we need today?  You may want a new car, a big house, plenty of changes of clothes and shoes as well as a phone and all the toys that are available today.  You may want to eat filet mignon and drink fancy coffee in the morning but do you need it?

 Do you need closets full of clothes?  Do you ever think about the huge difference between your wants and your needs?  Take a minute to look around you and ask yourself if you even need what you already have and then ask yourself if you are wanting more.

God will provide what you need.  God will test you to see if you can be content with those needs being met.  In a world of excess it is necessary to stop for a moment and find some Godly perspective.  We have been raised to believe that more is more and that more will make us happier people.  It is also a misunderstanding to believe that our existence is a pursuit of happiness.  That is just not true.

 Genuine happiness comes from living a life that is of service to our Lord which will result in entry to heaven which is where the true prize awaits your soul.  The goal is to make it home to heaven and the only way to meet that goal is to become Christ-like and serve God with submission and joy.  Life is full of bonuses and huge rewards but having a lot of stuff is not one of them.  Some people do have great wealth in this life and believe me that is a test of its own.  Learn to be content with your needs being met and learn to be a great servant.  This will produce a life that is truly rich and will leave you satisfied and at peace.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth, nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21  (NKJV).

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS