Our world is a world of needs. Needs drive our world. Even the technological progress and explosion we are experiencing today is as a result of needs. There is no single individual in the world who could claim to be unfamiliar with needs.
Needs are a constant companion to every individual on earth. Needs are usually regarded as those things necessary for an individual or human to survive on earth. Needs are different from wants. In the case of needs, the absence of it could lead to catastrophic consequences like death. Wants however, can be something that you desire that might not necessarily be a question of life and death.
“Distinguish between real needs and artificial wants, and control the latter”…Mahatma Ghandi
If an individual is deprived of basic human needs like water, that could lead to death. The need for food could lead to death, if it’s not supplied. Shelter is a need, while its lack might not lead to death, it could surely lead to dire consequences.
According to the old English economist Adam Smith, there are three basic needs of man: food (including water), shelter and clothing. As the case might be, these so called three basic needs of men are primarily related to physical needs.
However, if you are living in the 21st century, you would know that people of our age are not so particular about those physical needs anymore. Maybe in some developing countries, those physical needs might still be the primary desire of some communities. But for majority of the cosmopolitan citizens of our world, there are definitely some needs that are more pressing.
Psychological needs have come to the forefront since the days of Adam Smith. People of our age are more desperate for needs like success, achievements, acceptance, importance, recognition, peace of mind, etc. social and societal needs are of greater importance today than simple physical needs.
“Need can never be replaced, wants get replaced”…Umair Naeem
The other aspect of material needs that people mostly care about in our days are needs like wealth, riches, luxury, fame, etc. No matter what your needs might be today, I wish to address the question of how to get what you need in life.
A fact of life that many people are not aware of is that everything is actually within their reach. There are so many desperations and frustrations everywhere. So much that we at times think that only the lucky ones get by in life. Sometimes our own personal experiences contribute to this school of thought. Especially when we have been in so much need most of our lives. In a situation where you have been surrounded by one need or the other, it actually becomes a challenge for you to sometimes believe that you can get whatever you need in life.
I come to you today in this article, with a message of hope that it is actually possible by operating in certain principles, to learn to get whatever you need in life. Life is not all about frustrations, life is not all about failures. Life is not all about unmet needs and unfulfilled goals. Each one of us has had a share of our failures and disappointments in life. If care is not taken, these disillusionment could lead us to a place where we begin to think that it is not worth it, to try to strive for success. Our previous trials and failures could also begin to inhibit us on our way to achieving our goals.
“Never let life impede on your ability to manifest your dreams. Dig deeper into your dreams and deeper into yourself and believe that anything is possible, and make it happen”. ― Corin Nemec
There is a scripture in the Bible that God used to marvelously set me free in this regard:
“Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.” 1Cor. 3:21-22
Ladies and gentlemen, Can you believe that??? “ALL THINGS ARE YOURS!!!” This passage is both shocking and humbling. How could this possibly be true? But after I gave it a second thought, I realized that that was actually God talking to me, hence I am left with the option of accepting His truth, embracing the word and complying with His reality.
I think we would do this word a better service, if we give it a more detailed analysis. ALL THINGS ARE YOURS. The word ALL is so heavy, so universal and so comprehensive that I needed a few weeks to truly picture in my mind the magnitude of what God was talking about. ALL THINGS… Hhhmm! Can you feel that? ALL THINGS… ARE YOURS.
The word ALL means:
- Whole in regards to quantity, extent or duration.
- Entire, total amount, quantity, or extent of.
- Every member or part of: the whole number or sum of.
- Used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of a particular thing or group.
Friends, when the Bible says “all things are yours” that definitely takes some gusto to believe. I know it is difficult. Not everyone has the capacity to actually believe this. But I have decided to believe that all things have been given to me by God. I don’t need to struggle, I don’t need to strive, and all my struggles would mainly be to believe.
When you have faith that all things are yours, you walk and labor with a different attitude. Your efforts are geared towards a concrete and definite result. Because you know all things are already yours, your work and struggle now is only in getting a hold of it. So your struggle and work is to get a hold of it. You are not working as if you are struggling to have what is not yet yours, or what is unreachable to you or a height unattainable.
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” ― Michael Jordan
NO! You are rather working with the consciousness that you already have these things as an inheritance. Just that now, you have to get a hold of it. When you have something in your bank account, it’s already yours, but you need to physically walk there to do the paper work and collect what is yours. So we act on earth with the assurance that our heavenly Father already cares for us. Cares for us to the extent that He made everything available to us potentially.
“Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen… yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.” ― Bradley Whitford
Another phrase I will like to examine from that scripture is the phrase YOURS, all things are yours. Can you imagine that? All things are not Bill Gates’, Warren Buffetts’ or Steve Jobs’. All things are not politicians’ business mens’or pop stars’, ALL THINGS ARE YOURS! ALL THINGS ARE YOURS!! ALL THINGS ARE YOURS!!!
Do you feel like asking me, who am I? All things are mine? Where are all the things? All the things are in God. All the things are out there. All the things are yours.
The first thing you should begin to do is to simply accept and believe. You must comply with the thought that all things are yours. You need to embrace the grand idea that all things are yours. You have to be at peace with that very thought. Only after that is done will my article of today be of benefit to you. Because soon after this paragraph, I am going to begin to give you a list of all you need to do to get all you need in life.
One of the key factors that usually holds us back from getting what we need in life, is that we are often too afraid, shy and intimidated to get what we need in life. If you tell somebody that you can be a millionaire, in most cases, the first response is that of discomfort, shock, bewilderment. It is this kind of attitude which indicates disbelieve that often hinders us from been able to get from life the things we need.
Fear is a form of disbelief, because faith is the opposite of fear. When we truly believe, we don’t have to be afraid that things might not work out as we think. Even when things don’t work out as we had thought, faith still enables us to cope with the situation at hand. Faith allows us to know that our failure and defeat is only but a temporary situation.
“If you plan on being anything less than you are capable of being, you will probably be unhappy all the days of your life.” ― Abraham Maslow
Faith looks ahead. Faith does not put its head in the sand of the present. Faith does not have an ostrich’s response to life. Faith is forward looking. Faith allows you to know and be sure that the present failure is only a temporary thing. Faith sees the possibilities ahead of today. Faith looks to the future, hence faith does not give up. Faith allows you to keep on trying until you get what you need.
“Apply yourself. Get all the education you can, but then, by God, do something. Don’t just stand there, make it happen.” ― Lee Iacocca
When you truly believe in the words of the scripture we just read, that “all things are yours” then you will go for it. If you really need to attain a goal, when you really need something, that assurance that all things are yours gives you the faith to keep on going. It is this kind of faith that makes you go forward to get what you want no matter what.
That word of the living God, gives you the courage to surmount any obstacle. To seek if necessary on the land, to seek if necessary in the ocean and to seek if necessary in the air. People who believe that all things are theirs don’t see limitations before them. When there is faith and assurance in the word of God, you are not only ready to ask or seek, you are ready to knock if need be.
“Faith is about doing. You are how you act, not just how you believe.” ― Mitch Albom
It is faith that causes us to stand up and go. It is faith that pushes us to want to do something. It is faith that makes us to keep on going until we attain our goals. It is faith that makes us to be proactive. It is faith that makes us to seek, knock and to keep on knocking until the door is opened to us.
Too many people give up on the way to achieving their goals. When you give up, that by itself is an indication of lack of faith. We give up because we refuse to believe. We don’t have the strength to persevere. We lack the stamina to endure. Faith on the other hand especially in the word of God comforts us that it shall be unto me as the lord has spoken. Hence we know that we don’t settle for anything else but the best result.
“Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed.” ― Paulo Coelho
Another scripture that really comforts you and gives you the assurance to keep on pursuing until you attain is 2Cor.3:5
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.”
Wow! What a beautiful passage of the scriptures. In our pursuit, our faith is not in ourselves. Our faith is in the God that gave us the assurance. This is another scripture that tells us that we indeed could be rest assured that God is interested in giving us anything we need. More so, we already have the assurance that we have everything in him. That sufficiency, that comfort, that assurance that we have sufficient of all in him is a faith molder. Through that faith, through that assurance, we indeed can move mountains. We can subdue nations. We can change circumstances. We can overturn situations. We can demonstrate the beauty of God all around us, because we know we have his sufficiency with us.
“The only service you can render God is to give expression to what he is trying to give the world, through you. The only service you can render God is to make the very most of yourself in order that God may live in you to the utmost of your possibilities.” ― Wallace D. Wattles
I cannot understand the believers that just sit down in churches, hoping for things to happen by themselves. That does not demonstrate faith. That rather demonstrates lack of belief. When you believe something you want to go for it. When you believe something, you don’t just stay put. You want to pursue what you believe in.
Imagine somebody that you really respect coming out of the house, beckoning on you to come to him. You see him calling you, you hear his voice and yet you sit put. That does not demonstrate any faith or believe in the man. If you truly believe in him, you jump to your feet. You immediately run to him. Because you don’t just believe him, you respect him, you honor him hence you want to do his bidding.
“What is the point of being alive if you don’t at least try to do something remarkable?” ― John Green
If we truly believe in God and in His words, our response will always be connected with action. We immediately want to respond to His bidding. We will not keep on sitting, telling Him that we expect Him to bring things to pass by Himself. That would be an absolutely irresponsible thing to do. Faith is demonstrated by actions. Faith is only proven by obedience. So if God says you have all things in Him, we don’t doubt Him, but rather strive to confirm to Him that we indeed believe Him.
When God says that we have all sufficiency in him, we should jump to our feet and begin to go after everything we need in life, especially those things we need to please him. Yes it might be a little bit of a puzzle to us why a loving God would not make everything readily available all by himself. Why should we struggle before we get something in life?
“With a hint of good judgment, to fear nothing, not failure or suffering or even death, indicates that you value life the most. You live to the extreme; you push limits; you spend your time building legacies. Those do not die.” ― Criss Jami
Well, I think I understand God’s perspective on this. We take for granted those things that are readily available to us. But those things that are rare are the most precious things in the world. There is a reason why gold, silver and diamonds, even though are called stones, are not just stone. There is a difference between stones and precious stones. Those stones that are precious are those that are rare to come across by the way. While those stones and gravels that are just outside your house are not called precious because they are readily available. They are readily accessible. They are only left to be trampled upon by men.
So, if God says all things are yours and that you have all sufficiency in him and yet they are not readily available, that means God has found a way to make those things equally as precious. It means when you now discover them, they would indeed contain the highest value.
“I think that we are like stars. Something happens to burst us open; but when we burst open and think we are dying; we’re actually turning into a supernova. And then when we look at ourselves again, we see that we’re suddenly more beautiful than we ever were before!” ― C. JoyBell C.
There is a story in the Bible that tells us how an individual does everything possible to get all he wants in life. Matt 15:21-28
“Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed. “But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us. “But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. “Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me! “But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs. “And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. “Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour”
Let’s quickly examine some basic lessons from the life of this heroic woman, in how to get what you need in life. The life story of this woman is like a prototype to us on what we need to do to get what we need in life.
- THIS WOMAN CAME OUT FROM HER HOUSE TO LOOK FOR AN ANSWER TO HER NEED.
For you and I to get anything going for us, we must get out of our comfort zones and pursue all we need with vigor.
“You can’t just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You’ve got to get out there and make it happen for yourself.” ― Diana Ross
- SHE CRIED OUT TO JESUS.
Friends, even though everything we need is already available to us, we must do whatever it takes to lay our hands on them. In the case of this lady, she needed Jesus to hear and pay attention to her. For that to happen she needed to cry out which she did. She did what she needed to do to get an answer. This must be the same with us, if we want to get what God has already promised us.
“The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering.” ― Ben Okri
- THIS WOMAN CRIED OUT FOR MERCY TO THE SON OF GOD. “HAVE MERCY ON ME OH LORD SON OF DAVID” WERE HER WORDS.
Despite the fact that God has promised you all what you need, sometimes all that is standing between you and your miracle is your attitude. In this case humility was needed for this woman to get her needs met. Some of us could be too proud sometimes to be humble enough to be blessed. Change that attitude, humble yourself to get whatever you need in life.
“A great man is always willing to be little.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “HAVE MERCY ON ME, MY DAUGHTER IS SEVERELY DEMON POSSESSED.”
This lady knew specifically what her need was. For you to get what you need in life, you must know what your need is. Your need must be formulated concretely and precisely.
“There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.” ― Napoleon Hill
- BUT HE ANSWERED HER NOT A WORD.
Does that look like neglect to you? Yea I think you are right. However when you want to get what you need in life, you must not be prone to getting upset, angry or annoyed because people don’t treat you the way you expect. If you are always getting offended you will always lose the chance of getting what you need in life. Sometimes to get what you need in life, you must learn to swallow offenses. This lady knew that secret and it led to her breakthrough.
“Offense is like muddy soil; when trapped underfoot, it resists rapid progress. Don’t trap offenses under your mind, else you resist change! Jesus said “Shake the soil off your sandals”! What are you waiting for? Shake it off!” ― Israelmore Ayivor
- THE DISCIPLES STOOD IN HER WAY.
They urged Jesus to send her away for all her cries and noises. She endured all these and never got discouraged. For you to be able to get what you need in life, two words are essential: endurance and refusal to be discouraged. Your focus must be on what you need to get. Set your goals, set your target and stick out your neck for it.
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! Has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” ― Calvin Coolidge
- JESUS’ RESPONSE WAS NOT VERY COMFORTING EITHER. “I WAS NOT SENT EXCEPT TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.”
Simply put, that means you don’t qualify. You are not good enough. You are not in the class. Do you think that got the lady offended? No! She knew what she wanted, she needed solution. She was after results so she will not be perturbed. Friends, for you to go far in life to get whatever you need, you must be willing to close your eyes at times to rejections. Rejections will come on your way to your goals, but if you allow yourself to get emotional because of that, you will never get to your result.
“A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success.” ― Bo Bennett
- “LORD HELP ME!”
When you know where your solution is, be ready to become anything necessary. This lady was ready to become anything necessary just to get her goals met. Some of us at times will think some things are not good enough for us, or we are better in our eyes than some things that we are being offered. But you see, in this case what matters is getting what you need and this woman knew exactly how to get what she needed.
“The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.” ― Thomas A. Edison
- THE NEXT THING IS, JESUS EQUALED HER TO A DOG.
Can you guess what her response was? She said, “yes Lord, even the little dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.” There is a time for you to defend yourself, your reputation and your name, but there are other times when it is absolutely unnecessary to do that. What was most important in this case was her need which had to be met. Her focus was right.
“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. That surrender, even the smallest act of giving up, stays with me. So when I feel like quitting, I ask myself, which would I rather live with?” ― Lance Armstrong
- THIS WOMAN INSTINCTIVELY KNEW THE LAWS OF HOW TO GET HER NEEDS MET.
Her persistence earned her Jesus’ commendation. If you are persistent enough my friends, you will get what you need in life. There are no mysteries to it, it is Plain and simple.
“Persistence is the key to solving most mysteries.” ― Christopher Pike
- JESUS’ FINAL ANSWER WAS, ‘OH WOMAN, GREAT IS YOUR FAITH! LET IT BE TO YOU AS YOU DESIRE.” WHEN YOUR FAITH IS SOLID ENOUGH, YOU GET WHAT YOU DESIRE.
You don’t just get what you need, faith allows you to get a little more than what you need. You actually get what you desire because faith does not allow you to give up.
“Age wrinkles the body; quitting wrinkles the soul.” ― Douglas MacArthur
- HER DAUGHTER WAS HEALED AT THAT VERY HOUR.
Results, solutions, achievements, accomplishments, are all a possibility to the person, who knows how to follow and abide by the rules of God’s word.
“Quitting is never an option on the road to success. Find the way forward. If you have a positive mindset and are willing to persevere, there is little that is beyond your reach. The attitude of being ready to work even in the face of challenges and despite odds is what will make all the difference in your life.” ― Roopleen
Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that today’s article has been able to open your eyes to a new world of possibilities, a world of realities, a world where dreams come to pass, a world where there are no limitations, a world where needs are met, a world where you know and are sure that all things are yours. A world of sufficiency.
“Every human heart cries and yearns for the same thing: a chance to fulfill his or her own dreams and desires. Even the poorest man has a dream.” ― Myles Munroe
This is God’s dream for us. A life on earth that looks and sounds legendary. Almost like a fairytale. That fairytale life becomes a reality in real life when we can only believe him and his words. May this become the reflection of your life on a daily basis.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, CHURCH AND NATION
By Pastor Sunday Adelaja.
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