The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall NOT want
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." Psalms 23:1 (NIV)
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalms 23:1 (ESV)
Oh! Psalms 23:1 takes me back to my Sunday school classes when I first started off as a beginner at the age of two :D This is the only verse that kept repeating in my mind. And now, when I look at it, it's meaning gives me a lot of strength!
I included the two versions of this verse, on purpose. If you look at the NIV version of the verse, it says, "I lack nothing" and the ESV says, "I shall not want." This sentence is all in all a declaration that God is our shepherd (one who takes care of us, and guides us), and we want NOTHING! Woo.. that's a very strong declaration! I say strong because, I want things! I have some desires, some dreams that I want to be true. We have always been worrying, working, striving to get what we want, to provide for ourselves and for our families. We also pray and fast for what we want! And then, this verse contradicts to what we are doing! With mouth we say, "I shall not want!" and with what we do in our lives is "I shall want!"
As I have been declaring this, since my childhood, does that mean I should give up on my desires and be true to what I say? The answer to this is CONTENTMENT.
"6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NIV)
Spirituality + Contentment = Great Profits
That's God's equation for profits! Basically, if we have food to eat, clothing to wear, we are full! And I totally agree with this verse, when it says we brought nothing and we take nothing! Well, I did not come into this world in a super luxurious car! Neither will I be taking it with me (not that I have one). We need a car to go around and do stuff. But do we NEED a luxurious car to do that?
There's this line between needs and wants! You need clothing. But, do you need a $100.00 valued Jeans? Oh! Don't get me wrong! Personally, I love style and I love wearing great clothes! And I still don't think I need a clothing just because of it's brand!
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
When we want branded things, we start loving money! The scripture says to keep ourselves free from the love of money and be content with what we have! It might seem a little uncomfortable, but I have an advise for you. Shift your focus to eternal life! There! now it's easy to be content!
So back to desires and dreams! If your desires are providing for your needs and people's needs, then please go for it! But if they are just your wants, you might need to think about them again!
Don't worry about your needs! Because Bible says,
"31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV)
Our father in heaven knows that we need food, clothing, and shelter and he will provide you with these. All we need to do is, seek his kingdom (focus on Eternal Life) and his righteousness (do good), and everything will be taken care of.
From my personal experience, I can tell you, when you are content with what you have, he will definitely care and provide for the desires in your heart! Do you want a red color car? He knows that! And he would love to give you that! All he wants is, your heart and your love focusing on him rather than on your worldly things! So don't worry and run after everything in Life. Relax! Chill with what you have! The desires that are in your heart should be according to his will, and he makes sure to provide! He is our shepherd! He will take care! Seek him and all you want, will indeed be NOTHING!
