Can I Have This?
It was like they’d never been given a toy in their lives!
Reference: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. (Psalm 23:1 NIV)
Explore: There’s nothing quite like going to a toy store with a couple of children. As I don’t like shopping, I don’t head to the shops often, but the other day I took my boys (5 & 6) to buy some things.
As they entered into the toy aisle their eyes nearly popped out of their heads! There was no holding them back and they picked up and tried out pretty much everything within reach.
Once they’d had a good look around the requests started coming. “Can I have this for my birthday?” “If I’m really good for a week, can I get these?” “Can you buy this for both of us?”
It was like their playroom at home was bare and they’d never been given a toy in their lives! All their current toys faded in significance and their lives would only be complete with these new toys.
Application: Unfortunately, we as adults often act the same way as my boys did in the toy aisle. We see what others have and feel our lives are incomplete without having it too.
It may be a particular role at work, a type of car, another’s wardrobe or even their style of family. There is always something that can be added to our lives… but these additions don’t always make us better.
In Psalm 23, the most famous psalm of all, the writer speaks of not wanting anything extra once we have the Lord. This is true. Our God covers all our needs and is the One who fills the hole in our lives.
And yet, we still go looking for more.
It’s easy to recite this psalm, it’s so well known, yet, if we truly look at each verse we are reminded of God’s sovereignty in our lives. He is all we need. Nothing else will fulfil us like God. When we have Him, everything else pales in significance.
It’s important that we’re reminded of this. Often we spend so much of our time, resources and energy in having more and lack satisfaction with all the Lord offers us.
The Lord caters for our ultimate needs. Let’s keep our desires in check and make sure they are in line with what God has in store for us.
Prayer: Lord, there is always something more we could have, own, or possess. Help us to be content with what You have to offer us. Amen.
What has God given you?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.