Spiritual

A Desire Is Not a Need

It's criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion for the poor-what a blessing! (Proverbs 14:21, TM)

What are the needs of the poor? I believe that food, clothing, water, and shelter are needs; everything else is desires. It is criminal to see someone hungry, "naked," thirsty, and without shelter to protect themselves from the elements, and not attempt to aid them with as much as is within your power to give.

However, I believe you really need to seek God's wisdom in discerning whom He wants you to assist. There are times your helping someone could interfere with what God is working out in that person in trying to get him or her to learn to depend on Him. God will clearly tell you when He wants to use you to benefit a brother or sister in need. Some people, without realizing it, have habitually trained themselves to make a phone call rather than go directly to the Lord.

Every time I have been in need of anything in my life and went to the Lord as my source and supplier, He spoke to the individual He chose to use to meet my need. This way, I felt no obligation to the person, and the person knew he heard from God rather than have his emotions dictate his giving.

Scripture says, "My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19). Once I learned the difference between my need and my desire, I could comfortably go to God, confident that He would always provide the basics for me. He always has. He always will.

Watch that you don't set in motion habits, traditions, and culture that the Lord cannot continue to allow if you are going to be used effectively in His kingdom. I never tell anyone except God about my situation. He may speak to many about it. It is then up to them to obey Him.

When someone comes to me, not knowing I have a need, and tells me the Lord told him or her to give me certain things; I am comfortable that we both have heard from Him. "You have not because you ask not" (James...