The need to be needed

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Last week, we found that the first mutual need every human has is the need for love. We must both give it and receive it. God lovingly set the benchmark at the cross.

The second common need that we all share is this: the need to be needed.

All of our life is spent with a desire to belong. From trying out for 'the team' in Little League baseball, to applying for our first job, to helping our children 'grow up,' to leaving a legacy that has eternal value. Our need to be needed is intrinsic.

We all want our lives to have significance and purpose. For this Jesus died. He came to give us 'life, and life more abundantly' than the world alone can offer. He came to fulfill our destiny.
God so loved this fallen, broken world, that He NEEDED to do something.

And He did.

Now He needs us to be His voice in our families, and in our world. He needs us NOW. 'Today is the day of salvation.'

People don't need more dead religion. But they DO need hope. Our world is teetering like a drunken sailor. We weave back and forth, hoping against hope that the stock market will recover, that our kids will be loving, that our marriage will make it, that God will hold us.
Because God is love, He HAD TO HELP US. To ignore our plight would not be consistent with His character.

You and I can point people to the only one that can fulfill their need to be needed. God Himself invites us to belong to His family. He picked us for His team. How exciting is that!

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

P.S. Next week I'll conclude this three part series and share the third common need.