Our Needs are Holy

Last updated on: February 26, 2013 at 11:52 pm by Sean Graham

Our Needs are Holy 2013-02-26T23:52:38-06:00 Sean Graham

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

For those of you who have children, particularly young children, you know that one of the primary responsibilities of a parent is to ensure that the needs of your child are being met. That includes all of Maslow’s hierarchy. As a child matures, it becomes less and less our responsibility to meet the needs of that child. In fact, it is our responsibility to teach our children how to meet their own needs. I would go so far as to say when parents fail to teach their children how to meet their own needs they are failing in their responsibility towards their children. In many ways the parental role is reflective of the God role in our lives. I am going to write specifically in regards to our emotional needs that exist in every human being because what we do with those needs and how we ensure they are being met has great affect on our lives and relationships.

Your needs are holy!

But as an adult, they are no one else’s responsibility but your own. When we attempt to have our needs met by another, we with seemingly honest and vulnerable intention, burden the other person with that which is not their responsibility. In many relationships people decide that their partner, lover, spouse or friend are responsible to meet their needs. When we attempt to give someone else our needs they are offered a burden they cannot carry for long.

No person can cure the unsettled heart or mind in another. Only God has such power in that God is not burdened or moved to meet our demands. Rather, God offers us love that meets all our needs. God’s love is an invitation – always and forever calling to be heard, seen and received on love’s terms, not ours.

Were God to respond to our demands in regard to our needs He would create tyrants with God delusions believing others exist to fulfill their needs. Yet, your needs are holy and they should be met. But the “how” and the “who” of our attempts in meeting those needs really does determine our orientation toward life and others. Now this is not to say that in relationships people have no responsibility towards one another, and it is very possible to be neglectful or self absorbed; what I am saying though is that how people behave towards us does not determine whether or not we can have our needs met.

The power to receive Love’s invitation resides solely within us and how I respond to that invitation is solely my responsibility. On some levels this is the art of detachment or letting go and trusting that God will – in God’s way – meet all of our needs. Martin Luther had a saying, “I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”

The question for today is, “Where are you looking to have your needs met?” It reminds me of a great old SNL skit with Eddie Murphy back in the 80’s where he was playing Buckwheat, and he sang a song “wookin pa nub in all da wong paces” (watch it here for a good laugh http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jsk1A0tsSc).

But the saying is true, if we are looking for our needs to be met, we do have to discern whether or not we are looking in all the wrong places. Are we demanding of another? Or are we opening our eyes to the love of God that is offered in every moment that meets our needs and creates in us a love for others that is a gift and not a demand? I, in no way, imply that this is an easy process and we all fall short in this regard at times. But this is the path of maturing and peace.

Previous Post

February 26, 2013

Beyond Idolatry

Next Post

February 27, 2013 The Busy (c) 2003 Randy S. Woodley

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Addiction Advent Atheism Authority Bible Cartoons Christian Year Christmas church church planting Civil Rights Community Contemplative Spirituality Culture emerging church Empire Eschatology Evangelism Events Gender Healing Humanism Islam Justice Kingdom Lent Movement Building Multi-Faith Music mysticism New Wave Emergence origins Personal Poetry politics Prayer Preaching Privilege Racism Religious naturalism Resurrection salvation SKEPTIMERGENT Theology Trauma Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2017 November 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was Jesus' earthly father?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Joachim Simeon Joseph Zechariah