Guilty. I've used the title of this post more often than I'd like to admit. My mom would often joke with me saying, "You need?" with a sarcastic tone.
"Fine. I mean want, whatever. Same thing." I'd reply, brushing off the verbal slip up. However, it was more than an external mistake. It was much more more internal.

My perceptions have often been flawed, but it's only as that phrase occurred in my head today that I realized how many times I've used that phrase without any additional clarification. That's because it didn't need any clarification to me. It was a standalone statement. "I need a cheese steak right now." And hey, this is kind of silly because we can all agree that I don't actually need a cheese steak. I may want a cheese steak, but I don't actually need one. However, I've begun to realize that in the moment that yes, I believe that I need a cheese steak. I don't really think out the consequences of not having a cheese steak. I just know that I need one. Maybe the statement would be true if I said, "I need a cheese steak or I am going to end up being grumpy for the rest of the day." Sure, that'd be true, but you also begin to realize how silly that is.

So why do I pick at something so insignificant? There's an effect that believing we need something we don't has on us. We can get tired, grumpy, irritated, and even angry when we don't get it. We sin as a result of not taking the time to evaluate the true importance of the object at hand. And when we put matters into the grand scheme of things, we often find the object at hand is pretty insignificant. Friendships, relationships, even marriages have been broken because people don't take the time to evaluate the importance of the thing they're fighting over. Yeah, I want a cheese steak, but that's straight up stupid in comparison to desiring God's glory. I don't need a cheese steak, and I recognize that, now. But hey, in that moment, I think my head associated it as a need.

"Cheese steaks are great and all Stevie, but I mean it is just a cheese steak after all."
Very well, let's look at something all my singletons can identify with.

"I need a girlfriend/boyfriend."
Congratulations, you have just joined the rest of humanity. This "need" can be foolish and is always untrue. I'm not bashing relationships. I think relationships are great! I can't wait to be in one myself some day. However, let's re-evaluate that word "need." By the most basic human definition, can/will you go on living without a girlfriend or boyfriend? Yes, you can, regardless of whether or not you choose to. You don't even need a relationship by these standards. However, these are the world's standards. Let's look at God's standards, my fellow Christians: are your sins paid for without a girlfriend or boyfriend? Yes. Can you go on glorifying God without a girlfriend or boyfriend? Yes. Can you enjoy His presence without a girlfriend or boyfriend? Yes. Yes. Yes. However, I know that we associate the desire for a partner in this life as a need when, in truth, it isn't.

You're not single? Well, think of it this way. You're in an argument with your significant other, but you don't agree on something. Do you need to be right? Yeah, that strikes home, doesn't it?

We all think we need something that we don't. Sometimes we verbalize that mistake, and we should be quick to reproach ourselves in that mistake. But, sometimes we don't, so we need to aware of the condition of our hearts, evaluating whether or not we are treating "XYZ" as a need, rather than a want or desire. Wants and desires have their own series of downfalls, which I think I'll write about in my next post. However, if we can at the very least differentiate our needs from our desires, we're one step closer to being able to live to the glory of our God.

If you're not a Christian, you haven't even begun to recognize your greatest need. I'd love to tell you about it. Just leave a comment, and I'll be sure to get in contact with you.

To my brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace to you and peace.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Stevie