David writes a beautiful Psalm in which he cries out to the Lord in this way:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24. This is his conclusion after reveling in the fact that God knows everything about him, knitting him together intricately in his mother’s womb, and designing him perfectly for wonderful works. David longs to have a pure heart before the Lord, a man whose devotion to God is undivided.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul writes that “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8. And to the Church at Philippi, Paul writes “God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
In other words God is all I need. God is all you need.
But as I pondered whether my life reflects that I truly believe this I began asking myself questions. I wanted to share those questions with you. I don’t mean to suggest any answers to you by asking the questions and I am not saying that any of the things about which I am asking are “wrong.” I asked myself these questions as I prayed that God would search my heart and see if there was any offensive way therein.
If God is all I need, then why do I have a house with so many rooms?
If God is all I need, why did I have so many cars?
If God is all I need, why do I have a closet full of clothes? In fact, why did my wife and I need two closets?
If God is all I need, why do I have the job that I have? Is my job the thing I was designed for, or do I do what I do so that I make money or so that I enjoy a certain status?
If God is all I need, why do I eat out as much as I do?
If God is all I need, why do I struggle to get out of my house and find ways to help other people?
If God is all I need, why do I spend so much time thinking about how I can get things I want?
If God is all I need, why don’t I spend more time praying?
If God is all I need, then why do I want a certain kind of TV? Shoot, why would i have more than one TV? Wait, why do I have a TV at all?
If God is all I need, why do I occupy so much of my time and money with meeting my own “needs” that I find it nearly impossible to give my time and money to meeting others’ needs?
If God is all I need, why do I feel slighted when others don’t compliment me? Why do I look for others to notice when I do something well or nice? Why do I talk about my accomplishments?
Do any of these questions strike a chord in you? What other kinds of questions might we ask?