I’ve been moving at a snail’s 🐌 pace over the past two weeks. While ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred might seem like a convenient excuse, I’d be lying if I blamed it on that 😊. Weather issues aside, these two words in the title have had me thinking.
Needs vs. wants: a subtle yet important distinction. If you, like me, sometimes find it challenging to separate the two, let’s dive into this topic together and seek guidance from Jesus’ teachings to gain a clearer understanding🙏
Mark 6:56 NIV
[56] And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
The verse above illustrates an important truth. The crowds that gathered around Jesus were driven by a desire for physical healing, recognizing His power to restore their bodies. In their pursuit of a miracle, they experienced the greater reality: Jesus Himself was the ultimate answer to their deepest needs.
Dictionary definitions of wants and needs are as follows:
Wants: Things that people would like to have but are not necessary for survival or well-being. (Example: “I want a new car.”)
Needs: Things that are necessary for survival, well-being, or success. (Example: “I need food and water to survive.”)
In other words, needs are essential and necessary, while wants are desirable but not essential.
Luke 5:31 NIV
[31] Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
This is another verse that highlights the distinction between wants and needs. When we’re sick, we want to be healed, but we need a doctor to facilitate that healing. Hence, the key difference: that needs are crucial for our well-being, while wants are simply desires. Jesus points out that a healthy person doesn’t require a doctor, demonstrating that needs and wants are not the same thing.
As Christians, we face challenges that test our faith. From my little understanding, others may disagree, I believe it’s okay to have wants, but we must know the difference between wants and needs. When we pray, understanding this difference is crucial. Maybe that’s why some prayers take time to be answered or remain unanswered. Are we asking for the right things?
We must examine our hearts and minds as followers of Jesus. His words from the Bible remind us that He is not just someone we want in our lives but someone we need desperately.
In this day and age, the world NEEDs Jesus now more than ever. Often, we find ourselves torn between pleasing the world and pleasing God. What the world expects of us can be at odds with what we truly need – a deeper connection with our faith.
By putting Jesus at the centre of our faith, we discover the strength to overcome the temptations and challenges that come our way as we journey on in this life.
To God be the glory always 🙏❤️
Idau Hahine 