When the "Need" isn't the Need

During my time working at a church in Southern California, “walk ins” were common.  People from the community or who were passing through came into the church with various requests.  There were so many it came to a point where it seemed pointless to try to discern the truth of the story or the sincerity of those who made the request.  In every case I simply sought guidance from the LORD in prayer, trusting He would show me the appropriate course of action.  Some people became familiar faces and others I only saw once.  I always found it mildly humorous yet sad when people returned every couple of years with the same story, forgetting they had spun the same tale before.  From my experiences I soon learned the “need” presented by the people was not always their greatest need.

I remember meeting with one man who requested the church pay to repair his van's broken transmission.  Listening to the man plead his case, it seemed his whole life would be suddenly and miraculously on track if he was to have his transmission fixed.  But after speaking with him for a while, it became evident that it was hardly the case.  The man was living in his vehicle, unable and/or unwilling to commit to work, and had burned bridges to his family.  His life was in shambles, but he was unwilling to change his habits or lifestyle.  Years of self-destructive decisions led to a broken transmission.  From his view all he wanted was his transmission repaired, and when this was accomplished all would be well.  Every other aspect of his life was off-limits for discussion.

Without God, people are unable to perceive their deepest needs.  So many people approach this life on earth as if it is all there is or will ever be.  They expend much effort to prepare for retirement and make an estate plan, yet do not consider investing in their eternal future.  The man I spoke with at length could not see his need beyond a repaired transmission, and was like most people who do not perceive their spiritual needs at all.  Even his temporal view was shortsighted.  Say his transmission was repaired:  what would he do when his head gasket blew?  It is a wise man who looks beyond the temporal and considers his spiritual condition and eternal destiny.

How do we determine what we need anyway?  Generally our needs are determined by what we deem necessary for life.  We rightly say we “need” food, water, shelter, and sleep because without these things we would physically die.  In a spiritual sense we are born dead in sins, devoid of life and unable to save ourselves.  The Gospel reveals we need God because He is the only One who gives life, and eternal life at that.  It is in God all our needs are supplied by His grace.  The God who feeds the sparrows will provide our necessary food, clothes, and entrance into the Kingdom of God.  More necessary than money or repaired transmissions is our need to repent and trust in Jesus Christ, for He alone can forgive our sins, make us righteous, and give us eternal life.  Meeting only perceived physical needs or promoting social justice while neglecting spiritual needs of people is eternally disastrous.  God often employs physical needs to open the eyes of people to perceive their deepest need:  a loving relationship with the Living God.

God has revealed through the Bible man’s most basic need is a spiritual one only satisfied through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  We may say we need to be happy, but from God’s perspective we need to be made righteous.  Joy and contentment flood into the soul who fears the LORD.  Jesus says in Matthew 6:30-34, “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  Physical needs point to our greatest need of new life through Christ.  Often the perceived “need” isn’t the need at all, and may we seek God’s wisdom to discern how to meet the true needs of people physically and spiritually