Introduction
I was recently inspired by a friend’s husband who goes out on cold evenings to the city’s byways, parks, train stations, and the like to bring strangers and the homeless a hot cup of coffee. What a simple, loving, selfless, need-filling ministry. It takes little time, little cost and little effort. It is the reason why I am writing this blog.
It’s difficult to imagine that God has a need. After all, He’s God. He created everything. How in Heaven or on earth could He possibly need anything? Can’t God provide for Himself? The answer is, no, not if His plan for mankind is to succeed. He often asks us to do something for Him and if He interferes it will jeopardize His plan. We must fulfill these needs He has for our sake, not His. Couple this with the fact that He has given us a “free will” where we may choose to fulfill His will (need) or not. Sometimes all God needs is a glass of water or a cup of coffee (Selah). Isn’t it great that God has a need that we can provide? In short, He loves us, He needs us to love Him back. We show this by our love for one another. His needs are not the same as ours. His are not. Read on and understand.
Definitions
Many terms in this paper are understood by the reader but I also need to define them according to my intent in use hopefully bringing about a better understanding of what I am trying to convey. As below:
Christian
I put this definition here, not for true followers of Jesus Christ who understand the term, but for those who think they are believers but walk according to their consciousness.
A true Christian is an individual who not only professes to follow Jesus Christ but does so by being His disciple as represented by his actions, deeds, and love for one another.
By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) ESV
Not all who profess to be Christians are so. Those who are such need to heed to these hard words by Christ Himself.
“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are disgusting, disobedient, and disqualified from doing anything good.” (Titus 1:16) TPT
Needs
A condition or situation in which something must be supplied for a certain condition to be maintained or a desired state to be achieved. This is a good definition for this paper, provided by Google. It is something required that can be provided by an outside source. Something superseding a want.
Note: All of God’s needs are fully provided for in the Trinity. However, God created mankind thereby creating another need that can be achieved by mankind for the condition and state of mankind to continue to exist and not barely exist but to provide an oppurnity for us to exist in this world and in the next with Him for eternity.
OC
Oswald Chambers
Sanctification
To separate yourself unto God from everything worldly. To be made holy.
Selah
Occurs 74 times in the Hebrew Bible. I use it to cause you, the reader, to pause and reflect or think about what I have just written. By pausing I am hoping you will gain a better understanding.
Can We Provide God’s Needs?
Yes, indeed.
Christian actions must be proactive rather than passive (OC). The Good News must be supported by followers of Christ by doing what He requests. Followers don’t need to support the Message thinking we have to work for God. We must allow Him to work through us. (Selah). What usually happens is that we find ourselves, praying with others, for our needs or the needs of family and friends. We do this in private, at church, and in prayer groups, etc. Praying for our needs and those of others is fine. Jesus said so; but what about God’s needs? What does He need us to do for Him so that His plan for mankind will be fulfilled?
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) ESV
Shouldn’t we be putting God first, seeking His Kingdom, instead of always asking for something from Him? We are always asking Him for something such as healing, money, His promises, releaf from our trials, etc.. But why only seek our needs and that of others all the time? Is that what Christianity is about, what God can do for us? What about His needs? What deeds or commitments can we make to please Him and not just our own passions, desires and wishes?
“So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.” (Matthew 6:33) ESV
To know this we must have a selfless understanding of Who God is. Prior to knowing Christ we are told we must be Born Again. Having committed to Him we go on to learn that there is much more to Salvation than we previously thought. True, but we are often mislead to thinking about what He can do for us and not think of service to Him, filling His needs. He is Almighty God. Absolute in His Word. Ready to deliver and judge. Serving Him however is often misdirected in that we feel we have to do something for Him by having a ministry. The Charismatic movement is much the blame for this misdirection. What is your ministry? we are asked. What is your spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 1-11) Not realizing we do not have to have a ministry other than getting to know Him which brings us to redemption. Everything else is an effect of this redemption (OC). We serve Him right where we are planted through simple obedience. Love His people and maybe give them a glass of water or cup of coffee.
In other papers (letters) I’ve written and explained that God needs to be loved. I go on to explain that mankind was created to “know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world so that we can be with Him in the next”. This is true but God’s needs go way beyond that. It’s not difficult. We always make things difficult.
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) ESV
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:35 – 40)
Scripture Speak of God’s Needs
This is how His Plan will be accomplished through us. He needs us to follow these principles.
“Give me a drink.” (John 4:7) ESV
“Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, (Deuteronomy 10:12) ESV
“Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.” (Proverbs 4: 1- 27) ESV
Other Needs
He Needs our Obedience
As you all know, we need to serve Him. By serving Him we meet His needs. However, we can not serve Him if we do not Obey Him, we cannot obey Him unless we know what He wants, we cannot know what He wants unless we hear from Him, we cannot hear from Him unless we know (and read) His Word and we cannot know His word unless there is a Preacher/Teacher. Most of all, this knowledge has no value unless we can follow it up with works.
“My dear brothers and sisters, what good is it if someone claims to have faith but demonstrates no good works to prove it? How could this kind of faith save anyone? For example, if a brother or sister in the faith is poorly clothed and hungry and you leave them saying, “Good-bye. I hope you stay warm and have plenty to eat,” but you don’t provide them with a coat or even a cup of soup, what good is your faith? So then faith that doesn’t involve action is phony.” (James 2:14-17) TPT
He Will Test Our Obedience.
Now we know God will not test us beyond our ability to resist that test or temptation so, during a trial he tells us to rejoice because the trials reflect the amount of trust He puts in us by fulfilling this need for us to overcome the trial.
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) ESV
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) ESV
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:2) ESV
Now beware of this, if He tests us and we, by His grace, overcome that trial, He may very well send us another yet stronger trial, to build up our faith and spiritual strength even more.
He needs your soul.
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’’(Luke 12:20) ESV
“If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them.” (Matthew 21:3) ESV)
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) ESV
He Needs Our Company
Sometimes He just needs us to sit down and enjoy His presence, praising and worshiping Him for this is why we were created.
He Wants Us to Know Him
In knowing God we must spend time with Him, talking with Him, reading and understanding His Word and listening. If we do not spend time in the company of our Lord how can we possibly fulfill any of our needs much less His. God should never be just an acquaintance. Jesus is our brother, first born. God the Father is indeed our heavenly Father, our creator. The Holy Spirit, having proceeded from the Father and the Son is God within us. You must read “In Beginning God” for further understanding. Click here.
“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) ESV
Can you imagine, Almighty God saying to us, “Let us reason together”? Wow!
He Needs Us to Trust Him
Putting our trust in God means we must have Faith in Him. Now faith does not mean that we know, that we know, that we know, as I have often heard. That’s knowing. Faith is needed when we don’t know but trust and believe anyway. We read His Word and we believe it is true. We hear and recognize His still small voice and we trust and obey. We serve, sometimes not knowing the outcome as Abraham did when he was asked to leave the land of Ur with his family, not knowing where he was going.
“Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1)
“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalms 9:10) ESV
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” (Psalms 37: 4, 5) ESV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) ESV
Conclusion
Yes, God does have needs. Having created us He created a needs for His plan to be accomplished. These needs reside mostly on us to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him. Serving is where His plan requires action on our part. Perhaps only to give someone a cup of water, or a drink of hot coffee. If you do this for them you also do it for Him. Keep it simple. We need to learn not to complicate things as we often do. He needs us right where we are planted. By fulfilling His needs we will grow, right where we are planted. We need to sanctify ourselves, separating ourselves from everything worldly, including worldly thoughts, that divide and distract us from our relationship with Him and His needs.
Enough Said
“Thy Words were found, and I did eat them, and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16)
