I am hopeless when it comes to decision making, especially if my movie starts in ten minutes and I am still in the confectionary section trying to decide if I feel like lollies or chocolate, but then end up buying chips. I have to laugh at my lack of quick decision making. When I am torn between two different things I never seem to stop and ask myself if I ‘need’ it or ‘want’ it, and let me tell you there is a big difference between the two.
In this day and age, almost everything we could ever want is at our fingertips such as food, clothing, books, and the list goes on. We, however, get to the point where our decisive nature forgets the difference between want and need in this materialistic world.
Excuses
We love making excuses to make ourselves feel better for our decisions. Every time the next book in one of my favourite series comes out I must have it. But do I really need it? Well of course I do, I need to find out what happens next.
The amount of times I put my wants before my needs are astounding and yet I never notice I am actually doing it. Don’t get me wrong, I insist go and treat yourself once in a while, but I encourage you to look beyond the want and focus on the need. Ask yourself do I really need this? Is this really that important to have? The difference between want and need is that when you really want something you become determined to have it, but when you need something it is generally a process before you receive it.
Does God want that for me?
Due to building and renovations of our house, my brother and I have not had a door for our bedrooms for quite a while. Although it is such a simple thing, something we often take for granted, I really just wanted a door. Being a teenager I wanted my privacy, I wanted time to myself without feeling like I was being intruded on by the outside world beyond my bedroom.
It has only occurred to me that my desperate want for a door was actually not the need God wanted me to have. If I had a door all that time ago, I would barely come out of my room. Truthfully, I would only come out when absolutely necessary because, being a teenager, I appreciate my alone time. The funny thing is, not having such a simple thing as a door has made me become closer with my family because they have always been apart of my daily life.
Listen to God
Every morning I wake up to the sound of my siblings getting ready for school, or my parents chatting, or my brother bringing in a coffee for me (because he had to). Yes, I sometimes get annoyed at the intrusive noise charging at full speed into my desperately–seeking–silence ears, yes I love my quiet sleep-in’s or time with my music blaring out of my speakers, but because of my doorless bedroom, I have been more interactive with my family and their lives. This simple thing is my need that I didn’t even know of—but God knew, despite my desperate yearning for a door.
When I finally get a door, I won’t know what to do because I have spent so long without one it will become useless to me. God has a sense of humour, and I can’t help but laugh too. But besides my wanting verses what God knows I need, I must start to listen to what I need rather than what I want. The wants are great, but they are like candles on a birthday cake – yes they are important to have, but do you really need them? After all, you only eat the cake and throw the candles away.
Material Things
I read an interesting quote the other day that said ‘If material things are what you’re talking about when you say “I’m blessed”, you have no idea what a blessing is.’ Wanting materialistic things is okay, but when it rules you and takes control of your life that is when it is time to focus on what truly is the need for your life.
Material things are apart of the world but the Bible says in 1 John chapter 2, verse 15, ‘Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.’
We must remain pure as followers of Christ and allow ourselves to not only follow God but follow his need for us in this world. What God sees as our need is like him giving us cold water when our throats are parched. Romans chapter 12, verse 2 ‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.’
What do I want? No, no, no.
God, what do I need?
Cartia Moore is a connoisseur of fine chocolate and a sword fighter, trained and skilled in the art of fencing. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Drama, and Screen & Media Studies. Her focus is film, television and swordfighting sequences. She hopes to graduate and form her own drama and acting school.
Cartia Moore is a sword fighter, trained and skilled in the art of fencing. She has recently graduated from her Bachelor of Arts degree and has completed an Honours in Screen & Media Studies. She is now going on to do a Master of Teaching (Secondary), focusing in the teaching areas of English and Film studies. She is passionate and driven to inspire and encourage others to seek and find their worth and value in Him.
Cartia Moore’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/cartia-moore.html