here's the puzzle: you, what, have, want

I turned on the radio this evening to hear the last words of that amazing Diamond Rio song, "One More Day." Though perhaps not the original purpose of the song, it got me thinking about how if we are given something (anything), quite often it just makes us want something more. As the song says , "one more sunset maybe I'd be satisfied, but then again I know what it would do, it'd leave me wishing still for one more day with you."

Even starting out as children, we tell our parents at Christmas time--'mom, if you get me this toy, I will never ask for anything again.' Most mothers aren't silly enough to believe that. Then as adults, it seems we only get worse--'this sportscar is it...after that I will not want anything more.' ...but then we get the car and we need the rims, or the turbo package, etc. What we must come to understand is that our wants are ever changing, with trends, fashions, age, etc. And they have the potential to never be fulfilled. But I tell you what, I have come up with a solution to fulfill all your wants. Are you ready? You may want to grab pen and paper for this, it's a potential breakthrough. You can satisfy all of your wants by: wanting what you have. In a better way of putting it--be content. The interesting thing about this breakthrough (which is in fact no new breakthrough at all) is that the Bible reminds us frequently of the key to satisfaction....

Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."...look toward Heaven, not things here on earth which will fade away (whether in our lifetime or after)

Psalm 23:1, "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want." ---the want here is not the 'I want a doll, or choclate' sort of want as we know it, but rather it talks about being in want, that is, having a need unfulfilled. The Lord is your Shepherd, your leader...He's going to take care of your needs.

Paul, one of the great leaders of Christianity, tells us in Philippians 4:11-12, "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need." Now, mind you, Paul had been in prison, had been mocked, had depended on the funds of others to supply his needs as he travelled as a missionary...and yet, he was still full of joy (4:4) and content! Put your wants in perspective.

Truth is, a wish list is not a sin so long as you keep in perspective what your real goals and priorities are, and that you put Christ first. Remember the rich guy that had it all together, had followed all the commandments, yet was too in love with his riches to follow Christ completely? Luke 18:18-24. Don't become that. The smallest want can become the biggest barrier in your relationship with Christ if you do not remember what is most important (Him!).

One of the hardest things to let go of in this world, and one often not addressed when we talk about 'wants,' is those people that we love. It's a rough subject, but at some point we all have a date with the Big Guy (Jesus) where we pass from this world to our fate in eternal life (hopefully you have salvation and are going in the direction of Heaven). When those we love pass away, we must remember that Christ still must come first. If anything we should not turn our back on God during the pain of loss, but run to Him, His comfort, and seek His understanding of the 'whys' in the situation. Do not let other people become your god. This concept applies in living as well--don't make any person such an idol in your life that their wants come before those of God....even if it's family or a spouse (ouch...I know, it's not always easy), remember Christ should be number one.

So break the habit of wanting more and more. Look at what you have and realize just how blessed you truly are. I don't know what you have, but this I do know, if you are reading this, it must be enough. This life will not always be about thriving...some days it's just surviving. Just remember even in the surviving ('whatever state I'm in' as Paul put it) to be content.


[....and for those of you confused by the title...you're supposed to organize it as 'want what you have' not 'have what you want'...the lesson: perspective is key.]