• Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Our Team
    • Wall of Support
    • Affiliates
  • Resources
  • Join our team
    • Open Positions
    • Write For Us
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • Store
  • Contact
Joshua's Outpost
Support Us
Login
No Result
View All Result
JO
Support Us
Login
No Result
View All Result
Joshua's Outpost
No Result
View All Result

Defining Your Needs

Joshua's Outpost Staff by Joshua's Outpost Staff
November 13, 2019
in Culture, Faith
Reading Time: 4min read
2
Defining Your Needs

I’ve been spending some time reflecting on Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 6. I’ve laid out 3 Treasure Principles; I’ve explained the Exclusivity of Treasure Pursuit, and I’ve discussed some applications of Earth-Bound Parenting. Today I want to talk about the word “need” found in verse 32.

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” (Matthew 6:31-32, ESV, emphasis mine)

DEFINING NEED

I would argue that Jesus is teaching that we’re not responsible for defining our own needs. Now, let’s be honest – this doesn’t make sense to us.

Think about it. Would you ever let a stranger go to the supermarket and purchase your groceries; let a relative select your outfit for the day; let a colleague plan your family vacation? Of course not: “They don’t know what I need to eat or what I need to wear or what I need to enjoy my vacation.”

Here’s an important principle to remember: you and I struggle to give up control because we think no one else knows what we need more than we do.

Listening to the surrounding culture doesn’t help, either. Everywhere you turn you’ll find propaganda urging you to “chase after your dream” or “do what you want” or “don’t let anyone tell you no.” You’re constantly bombarded with the ideology that no one knows you better than you know you.

Jesus counters this worldly ideology with heavenly theology: only God knows what you truly need.

EXISTENCE-BASED NEEDS

Now, I need to include a quick disclaimer. I’m not talking about the daily physical needs that are essential for human existence, like eating, drinking, sleeping, and adjusting your wardrobe to the climate so you don’t overheat or freeze to death. Those are “existence-based” needs, and God has made you a steward over your body (Romans 12:1 and 1 Corinthians 6:15), so it’s biblical that you take responsibility for them.

I’m talking about things – they can be physical, emotional and/or spiritual – that you tell yourself you “need” to be happy. This could be anything: increased income, a safer neighborhood, a more respectful spouse or child, a church that loves your ministry, and so on. You fill in the blank: “If only I had _______, my life would be better.”

GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED

Even though it will be a struggle, I want to encourage you to willingly and joyfully let go of the responsibility of defining your needs. Here are three reasons that should help:

1. God is Creator

You’re not just handing over responsibility to your spouse or any old neighbor; the Creator of the universe is responsible for all your needs. Remember, God created us; we didn’t create us. It’s fundamental Sunday school theology, but it makes all the difference.

If you were an inventor and you came up with an innovative and complex piece of machinery, no one would know the project better than you. You could make it do things no one else could do, and you would know exactly what it needs to operate. After all, you built it from scratch.

The same is true with God; as Creator, he knows everything about your inner workings – physically, emotionally, and spiritually – so he knows exactly what you need. It just doesn’t make logical sense for a piece of creation to define its own needs over the Creator.

2. God is Omniscient

God not only knows everything about you, but he knows everything about everything. He knows what the weather will be, how the stock market will ebb and flow, and every other miniscule detail of the universe that will impact your life.

You can’t predict the next five minutes. And not only that, you and I tend to live for the gratification of the here and now. How warped does that make our perspective? If the goal is to get immediate pleasure, we’re going to pass up on a better life tomorrow just to get instant (and lesser) pleasure today.

3. God is Omnipotent

God is all-powerful; you can barely control your hair in the morning! So, even if you were omniscient and knew what you needed, you wouldn’t have the power to provide it for yourself.

By giving God the responsibility of defining your needs, you’re placing your life in good hands. Not only does he know everything about you and everything about this world, but he’s able to control it and provide exactly what you need in the exact moment when you need it.

By giving God the responsibility of defining your needs, you’re placing your life in good hands. Not only does he know everything about you and everything about this world, but he’s able to control it and provide exactly what you…

Click To Tweet

HANDING OVER RESPONSIBILITY

Hopefully, by this point you’ve noticed a theological mistake in my argument: since when is it human right to give anything over to God? Good observation: It was never, nor will it ever be, our responsibility to define our needs.

But that doesn’t mean you and I will still try. We’ll write up a shopping list of things we “need” to be happy, and when that list isn’t met in a timely fashion, we’ll be irritated, angry or depressed.

Jesus offers a much better way. He’s encouraging us to give up control and let our soul be at peace, resting in the Heavenly Father.

Jesus offers a much better way. He’s encouraging us to give up control and let our soul be at peace, resting in the Heavenly Father.

Click To Tweet

God is the creator; he knows how you operate. God is omniscient; he knows exactly what today and tomorrow hold. God is omnipotent; he can control every microbe of the universe. And on top of all those things, God is good. “He will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) All you need is the evidence of the Cross to know that God will meet your needs, for his glory and your good.

This content was originally posted by Dr. Paul Tripp on www.paultripp.com and was republished with permission. 

Join our mailing list and get a FREE Devotional plus 5% off on our Online Shop
We respect your privacy. No Spam Emails!

Joshua's Outpost Staff

Joshua’s Outpost is a source for men to find encouragement to be bold in their faith and walk with Jesus Christ.

Like what we do? Take a second to support us on Patreon!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
Tags: GodNeedsPaul Tripp
Previous Post

5 things the church can learn from Jordan Peterson

Next Post

The Real Look

Next Post
The Real Look

The Real Look

Comments 2

  1. claire o'sullivan says:
    4 years ago

    a daily (sometimes several times a day) praying and leaving that control at the foot of the Cross.

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Michael Price says:
      4 years ago

      I fully agree Claire. I have to consistently remind myself of this. It’s not easy but it’s something we are called to do.

      Loading...
      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 105 other subscribers

The Frontline Podcast

  • Home
  • About
  • Resources
  • Join our team
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • Store
  • Contact

© 2021 Joshua's Outpost. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Write For Us
  • Store
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2021 Joshua's Outpost. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: