by J. Randal Matheny

We sometimes feel unfulfilled, with one or more needs unmet. Perhaps a husband or wife doesn't give us enough attention. Parents may have neglected or abused us as children, and we still ache because they didn't provide us the home life we needed. Maybe we're high achievers who haven't reached the mark yet. Or some strange urge -- homosexual feelings, in-the-know hunger, a cruelty streak -- drives us to act out indecent or perverse behaviors.

To fill needs, people seek drugs, alcohol, food, sex, work, thrills, sports, or games. Just as marketers find a niche and fill it, Satan opens up a myriad of quick fixes for whatever ails us.

What is your need? Any need. Every need. List one, or list them all.

Now make a list of where you go to meet those needs.

Israel thought she had needs that God wouldn't or couldn't fulfill. But other gods could.

Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
Psalm 81.8-10, ESV

God's cry to Israel belongs on every newspaper and network news today.

Our feet tread the wrong path, and God calls out to us change direction. He admonishes, corrects, chides, waves his hands high in the air to get our attention. One of his long-time appeals is, "Listen to me!" Because he knows best.

Every person, place, or thing that we seek out to fill our needs becomes a god. When we ignore the Lord's provisions or fail to trust him to supply all of life's needs, we will seek out other sources. That's why Paul will call greed idolatry (Colossians 3:5). Money promises security, importance, power, but it's an empty promise, as all gods make. For this reason, Jesus calls it "the deceitfulness of wealth" (Mark 4:19).

Memory of what God has done for us drives us to him for our present need. Israel's benchmark was God's deliverance from Egypt. The church recites the crucifixion as its day of creation and makes a case for God's goodness by every action of his in history.

Fullness to satisfaction is God's trademark. He is not a stingy, begrudging Deity, but "gives generously to all without finding fault" (James 1:5). Saints are obese! Not from lack of exercise, lack of sharing, lack of selflessness, but because God is generous. One preacher said no matter how fast we shovel out the blessings, God has a bigger shovel.

God is filling! So when I have a nagging need or an unfilled urge, I know just where to go.

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