Our Greatest Need

When was the hungriest or thirstiest you have ever been? By definition, you were hungry or thirsty because you lacked food or water. David was a man who often faced lack in his life. He found himself in the wilderness more than once, oftentimes because he was fleeing for his life. In Psalm 63:1, David revealed his (and our) greatest need: God. He said, “Early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee. . . .”

My sophomore year of college, we hiked across the Grand Canyon from the North Rim to the South Rim. Beforehand, we stopped at a store in Flagstaff, Arizona, to buy what food we needed for the hike. For some reason, the cans of Vienna Sausages on the shelf looked appetizing. I thought, “Hey, I like hotdogs. These will be great!” Besides, the picture on the can looked gourmet!

It took only a meal or two to face this dilemma: would it be worse to starve or to eat another can of Vienna Sausages? I think those were the last cans I bought, and hopefully they will remain so! I found myself longing for anything, as long as it wasn’t a Vienna Sausage. I know David didn’t have even a can of Vienna Sausages awaiting him in the wilderness, but despite his lack of food and water, his greatest need was God.

You can rejoice in any lack, as long as it is not a lack of God. You would be better off in the middle of the desert with no food or water than to go through this day without God. Do you lack anything this morning? Is there anything you don’t have that you think you need? Well, part of your lack is by God’s design. It is our nature to want to live on our own. If you could live without God, you would! There is nothing virtuous about being in need, but any lack you have is bearable if you have God. As David reminds us, God’s presence is “better than life.”