Christian wants and needs.

     Wants and needs are two very different elements in life.  We tend to think along the wants side of life and take for granted the needs will be taken care of as well.  Christians are no different and many spend much of their lives focusing on wants even when they think they aren't doing so.  There are many different wants but they all have the same emotional selfishness that accompany them.  We want but we don't have because we ask with wrong motive (James).  We ask and we don't receive because we seek to consume it on ourselves (James).  Selfishness is the center and motivating means to receive what we want.  Solomon, who had everything, said that possessions were meaningless and a waste of time.  Wanting isn't all bad.  We want to be happy.  We want our children to turn out to be great adults.  We want to be able to help others.  These are all good wants for Christians to have.  We want peace and tranquility in our lives.  We want to be able to express our faith without consequence.  Again, all are good wants for Christians to have.  It's when we begin to insert "I" into the equation that things tend to go wrong.  "I" being the motivation factor.  It's not about Jesus but it's about me.  Jesus wants us to be happy, wants our kids to turn out great, wants us to help others, wants us to have peace and tranquility, wants us to be able to express our faith without consequence.  Jesus doesn't necessarily want us to have that new SUV or sports car.  Christians do have valid wants when taken with the right motive.
     Needs are supposed to be different.  We, however, have taken it upon ourselves to say "needs" but mean "wants".  Priority has changed and we have assimilated the language where we use needs but really mean wants.  "I need some ice cream."  No, "I want some ice cream."  These wants portrayed as needs seek to satisfy the wants as unselfish.  It doesn't work.  Remember we have a God who says he will pour out the blessings of heaven so much that we won't be able to contain them.  There are conditions however.  When we actually JUST seek our needs, and only our needs, somehow our wants, if in His will, are provided as well.  It's nice when that works out.  I need some simple things.  I need air to breathe, food to eat and water to drink.  I need love acceptance and approval.  Between those 6 there are no needs that should be over shadowed by wants coming into my thinking.  The wants (and I have some) are a distraction from God's provision.  We are basically telling God we know better what is good for us than he does.  We also know, as Christians, that this isn't true.  God has everyone and everything in his hands.  He brings the rain and sunshine just as the cold and snow.  He sent his Son to live, die and raise from the dead so we can know his love, acceptance and approval.
     What's a person have to do?  Many of our wants are driven to have what others have.  Keeping up with the Joneses is not what Jesus had in mind.  He sent his disciples out to evangelize with the clothes on their backs and sandals on their feet.  He said that those seeking him would care for their needs so they didn't have to worry about anything but telling others about him.  That message hasn't changed.  Many missionaries go out to serve God with faith that He will provide the needs.  If He sends you then he will care for you.  Amazing stories have been written and shared by how miraculous answers to prayers have taken place.  When we complain about what we do not have, cannot have or fail to have (wants) we are telling God he isn't doing his job.  We lose faith that God knows what he is doing with our wants and so we become gods of our wants.  The personal financial debt of the Christian is evidence of that very thing.  I understand borrowing money to buy a house or to deal with mounting medical bills.  I don't understand why we need a steak and champagne lifestyle when we can only afford hamburger and water.  The only answer is to cause ourselves to be comfortable, able to step up to the competition with family friends and enemies.  With Jesus taking care of our needs we should be feeling sufficient.  People should look at our lives and maybe question their own wants and needs.  Whether it's a want in my life or a need; I need to assess whether it glorifies God or me.  It's my choice and it's your choice.