Our Greatest Need

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

I do not like to be cold. I know people say it’s better to be cold than hot because you can always add another layer for warmth, whereas if you’re hot, eventually there are no more layers to take off. I don’t care. I hate being cold.

I don’t like being too hot either. You know those down blankets that are so popular, especially in hotels? Those make me too hot but don’t allow me to sweat. One time I was sharing a bed at a hotel with a chorus sister, and in the middle of the night I suddenly jumped out of bed, freaking out, burning up; I wasn’t even awake at first! My body just knew I needed to cool off and got me out of bed before my conscious brain had a clue. My poor roommate was sorry she had ended up in a bed with me, that’s for sure!

My husband and I have a running joke. He’ll ask me if I want to go for a walk and I’ll ask him if it’s between 69 and 72 degrees. Anything lower? Too cold. Anything above that? Too hot.

We are always looking for things to satisfy our physical bodies. We like the house, the church building, the office, and the outside for that matter, to be just the right temperature. We like— we might even say we need— good food, good drink, a good night’s sleep. If we don’t get any of these things, we’ll likely complain.

Which of these does God promise?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said of food, drink, and clothing that our “heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you,” (Matthew 6:32b-33). Paul instructed in I Timothy 6:8 (KJV), “having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.” Do those words cause anyone else to do a double-take, or is it just me? God, did you really mean to leave shelter off that list??

Furthermore we’re creatures with a dual nature.

We are always looking for things to satisfy our inner being as well. We try to secure circumstances that will create a pleasant psychological state— good friends, good marriage, good kids, pleasant work to do, security (freedom from worry). If any of these are absent, we’ll likely complain.

Which of these does God promise?

…. (crickets chirping)…

Well, in Philippians 4:6 Paul implies that freedom from worry is possible … but he said that would not be achieved through perfect circumstances but rather in spite of imperfect circumstances. In verses 11-12 it sounds like Paul had learned how to be content even if he was hungry or mistreated or alone… or even cold!

Sometimes what we think we need, is not what we need. I understand this when my 7-year-old asks me fifty times a day for candy. It’s not best for him; he just wants it. But it’s harder to understand when it comes to my own happiness. It’s natural to desire to be comfortable, but sometimes God purposely pushes us out of our comfort zones.

I need to learn to tolerate a little bit of cold or heat and just go on that walk with my husband because he asked me to. Likewise I need to recognize that God may be trying to use the uncomfortable things of life to make me stronger or draw me closer to Him.

The fact is, Jesus didn’t come to take away all suffering or to restore earth to a perfect paradise. He could have but He didn’t. What he did come to do was take care of our one most pressing need– the need to be forgiven of our sins.

Jesus did not promise to make us rich, beautiful, comfortable, healthy, or even safe.

But here are two promises He did make:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

Dear God, thank you for sacrificing Your Son, Jesus Christ, to provide for my one greatest need– forgiveness. Help me to be thankful for all the other blessings You so graciously give me day by day. Please take away my complaining spirit, and help me to remember in every situation that all I really need is You. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

by Christie Cole Atkins