Wanting

“Want to buy happiness? Spend less.”-The Dallas Morning News billboard

Driving south on 75, this billboard caught my eye. This is a profound statement, but to the marketing person or the salesperson in a modern culture, this doesn’t make sense. Why would any salesperson want anyone to sell less? Their job is to sell things. More is better and bigger is best. In my limited knowledge of economics, buying more seems to be the drive behind a free market system. Those in a free market system are free to fulfill their wants and their desires.

Wanting…

Many times I associate this word with material things. For instance, I wanted to listen to some different music this week, so I purchased more CDs. I go out and get what I want because I am capable of doing such things. However, when pondering my wants and listening to other people and their wants, interesting things surface. “I want a meaningful relationship.” “I want a nice car.” “I want to be rich.” Many times, the persons saying such statements are already in a meaningful relationship, have a nice car, or are well off. Their wants are not satisfied even-though they already have them.

The same can be said of the immaterial. I find that I constantly struggle with wanting more attention, more love, more praise from other people. These things are not tangible, but intangible. So, in a completely human, American way, when I am lacking of attention, love or praise, I set out to gain it. I know what to do to get it. I can talk more, joke more, wear things that I know people will complement me on or make people look at me, or create a new image solely based on my strengths and exalt these strengths.

But I still want…

This is where the subject of “needs” come in. What is the difference of a “want” and a “need?” I think to understand each, one must understand the origin of each. My wants are determined by me. My needs are determined by Something greater. For instance, I have a need to eat, to be loved and to sweat when I am hot. Each of these I did not choose to possess, but it is part of being a human. My “wants” can stem from these “needs.” I want to eat a certain type of food, to be loved by a certain thing or person or to cool myself off are ways we combat theses needs. I simply satisfy my wants without ever thinking of their origins.

“I am in need.” These are some of the hardest words for me to say. To recognize that I am depraved of something is humbling. It is funny how we humans will take the painful recognition of a depravity and glorify it. Food and sports are two great examples. We will pride ourselves while dining at the best restaurants, as we subtly say, “help me, I cannot live without food.” Sports are great and I love watching them, but they can be the exploitation of our inward desire to be a god. It is painful to be still, to stop and to accept our needs. It is painful for me to accept that I am in need.

Yet, when I choose to accept this, when I chose to accept that I am indeed a person who is depraved, my wants do not deceive me. I can enjoy a wonderful meal at a nice restaurant, a great basketball game or a nice car without it becoming an addiction. I can be praised or be loved by many people, but that will not change my identity. I can live life to its fullest potential, have a great time at parties and events, but the things I do, do not own me or determine who I am.

Where are you in this matter? Do you consume your life with the satisfaction of your wants, never leaving any time to ponder why you are doing it in the first place? Stop. Ponder your wants and needs. This Something who has created us can satisfy you. You must simply acknowledge you are in need in the first place.