Weekly Musing - Pat

A Post-Christmas Question:

What if neediness is a God-given gift? One not to be avoided, but embraced? What if our neediness is an opportunity to give God honor? Really?

For too much of my life I considered being needy as defective and weak. It was to be avoided at all costs. After all I kept hearing you need to “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps”. The only problem was I didn’t have any boots.

What if neediness is a path to failure leading us out of self-sufficiency into the life of the All-Sufficient Christ life?

Consider the words of Jesus, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life”

John 5:39-40 NASB 1995.

It comes down to source. It was in the Garden the decision was made they could be like God apart from God. In essence they could be “god” with self as source. The unholy and devastating lie of separation that led to the mantra of the human race, “if it is to be, it’s up to me” - the definition of self-sufficiency.

No matter how hard we try to meet our own needs or look to others to be the answer, we end up being disappointed, disillusioned and distressed. Our bodies break down, our emotions run amok and our minds never find rest and peace.

So, can neediness and even failure be gifts to be grateful for and an opportunity to honor God? The answer has been rolling around in my mind and yes, I believe it is so.

There is no need to define “neediness” but how about “honor”? To give honor is to glorify. To glorify is to give a correct estimate or opinion of a thing or person. Just as Jesus gave God honor and glory by being His exact representation in the flesh, He also gives us a correct picture of who we are and who we were created to be from before the beginning of time.

“When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” John 14:20 NLT.

We give God honor and glory when we let the gift of neediness and failure lead us out of the desert of self as source and into the green pastures of His life in us, the true Source for life and godliness.

I agree with the Apostle Paul and join him in declaring:

“But he answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-12 TPT.

It is then these truths begin to sink deep:

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, . . .”

2 Peter 1:3-4 Berean Bible.

“For to me, to live is Christ. . .” Philippians 1:21 NIV.

“. . . because as He is, so are we in this world” 1 John 4:17 NKJV.

I will be ever grateful for the gift of neediness that led me out of the trap and destructiveness of self-sufficiency and into the awakening of the All-Sufficient Christ in me! These three - righteousness in Christ alone, Christ as true Source, and Christ AS Life, are to me the abundant life Jesus promised us all.

“. . . I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

John 10:10 NKJV.

I agree with Linus, “that’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown!”