Psalm 34:9
Honor the Lord! You are his special people. No one who honors the Lord will ever be in need.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Twenty-five years ago, my husband and I launched Workamper News… a business that assists people in finding work while traveling and living in an RV (recreational vehicle). The world of RVing is like a lot of other things – the difference between the level of “need” and the level of “want” is vast. Some RVers are content to travel the country and Workamp, while living in a tent or a pop-up camper. Others would never consider taking a job of any sort and must have a top-of-the-line motorhome or fifth-wheel with granite counter tops, leather upholstery, and all of the latest electronic bells and whistles. You can find wonderful people in both categories – and all of the levels in between.
Some of the Workampers who sold their home and almost all of their belongings to move into a small RV and travel the country are among the happiest people I’ve ever met. They truly enjoy doing a great job for their employer in any situation… from taking tickets at an amusement park to packing orders for shipment at Amazon.com, working in a sugar beet harvest operation in the Midwest or volunteering in a federal or state park or wildlife preserve, or scrubbing shower houses in a campground, and MUCH more. These folks recognize that serving others and doing fair work for fair compensation… then enjoying the area in which they live and all of God’s creations and blessings… is more valuable than owning a lot of “stuff” and feeling “prestigious.”
The problem many of us have is discerning whether we are in “want” or honestly in need. And more than a few of us don’t realize how or when we are truly blessed. We think we have to have lots and lots of “stuff” to be happy. We have to be recognized by our peers as “successful”… and we aspire to be monetarily and materially “rich.” I always look to my grandmother, who lived modestly on an income that would have been a challenge for many of us to stretch each month. Her first payment was always to the church… and somehow, she always had money left over at the end of the month… if only a few dollars. God blessed her – and continues to bless her – by meeting all of her needs. Surely, SHE is one of the richest people I know.
I have seen firsthand how God blesses those who honor Him. I’ve watched God more than meet the needs of those who put Him first and sought to serve Him at every turn. I’ve also watched some pretty “rich” people suffer and struggle because of where they placed God in their list of priorities. And I know a LOT of people who are totally confused about what constitutes true needs and what are mere wants in their lives.
I challenge you to examine your life and discover your true needs. Make sure that you put God first… that everything you do honors Him. See for yourself how this ensures that God will meet your needs…and probably bless you far beyond this measure. Figure out what “needs” you have that are truly more in the “want” category, and ask yourself how critical these really are to you. Are they honestly worth pursuing at the cost of your relationship with God? I am quite certain that when we honor God in all things and put Him first, we will have more than enough of everything else.
©2012 Debbie Robus
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