Riches

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

It seems to me, that the main goal of individuals and nations these days, is the accumulation of riches. Now, you can make your own definition of what riches are just by reading the headlines of the paper. Hollywood actors and actresses going in and out of rehab, indicating many things, the search for and accumulation of riches included, as well as a huge need in their lives. We hear of normal, average people everyday tearing apart their families, because the man or the woman all of a sudden chooses career or extra-curricular activity over their families. We read of countries imposing economic sanctions if they don't do this or if they do that. And all of this leads me one conclusion: Man, the world has a need, people have a need, and that need is met by Jesus Christ.

Now, while this isn't going to be about that "God-shaped hole" that is inside of each one of us, I do want to talk about our need. I think that it is interesting that Paul didn't write the plural, "needs," but rather used the singular form of this world, "need." This indicates to me, that there is a need in the lives of human beings which is greater than any other need in our life. It is greater than the need for water. It is greater than the need for food. It is greater than the need for shelter. It is greater than our need for each other. Yes, those are needs. But what is the one need in our lives that surpasses any other need we have? It is the need for Jesus Christ, and to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives on a daily basis.

For me, I need to go to the Holy Spirit every day, and ask Him to fill me with His power that I need again for this day. The story is told of D. L. Moody preaching on the Holy Spirit, and he was preaching on this very thing: the daily filling of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And after the service a woman come up to him to ask him, "You are D. L. Moody. Why do you need to be filled every day with the Holy Spirit?" And Moody replied, "Because, Ma'am, I leak." And that is all of us. We are all leaky vessels, and need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit every day. I know there are some out there who will argue that with me about the Holy Spirit's working in our lives. I know. But keeping the main thing the main thing, that Jesus Christ is Lord, and it is He who will supply all our need (and needs), we must look to Him for our strength, for our sustenance, for our provision. It is in Him we live and breathe and have our being. I encourage you, beloved, to continuously be in the Word, and in prayer, and allow the Holy Spirit to work through you today, to be a minister to others of us out there. Amen.