Jacob
2008-04-27 23:44:34 UTC
We all have both types of needs, natural and spiritual. But since we
are living on the Earth with earthly bodies we tend to be more aware
of natural, earthly needs than the spiritual. Spiritual needs have far
deeper roots. If they are not met, they can affect even our earthly
lives and not just our life after death. For example, if we hold
resentment in our heart towards someone it can cause us physical and
mental harm too, like ulcers, migraine, arthritis, insomnia, etc. On
the spiritual level we stand the risk of not getting our own sins
forgiven (Mt.6:14,15). This can affect not only life after death but
also the blessings from the Father here on Earth.
But as materialism takes a stronger hold on the people of the world,
it also tends to influence the way we Christians live. Our prayers
tend to focus on our material and physical needs. If we look at the
prayer requests pouring in we see that 99% of them are about earthly
needs. Now it would be altogether wrong and unrealistic to say that we
should not pray about our natural needs. Jesus recognised that we have
need of them (Mt.6:32). He also taught us specifically to pray for our
daily bread, which represents all the things that we need for our life
on Earth (v.11). On the other hand Jesus mentioned that 'life' is more
important than food and clothes (v.25). We can understand it from what
He said about the folly of having great wealth in the world (and all
the fame and pleasure associated with it) and losing out on our soul
(Mt.16:26). It is a matter of what is more important. We have to be
concerned about our natural and spiritual needs, in the right
proportion and with the right priority (Mt.6:33).
Our being consists of our body, soul (consisting of our mind, will,
feelings and personality) and spirit, with the spirit being the
deepest part of it. If our spirit is healthy and prospering, certainly
it will bless our soul and body too. How foolish it is to take so much
care of our body and neglect the root issues in our spirit! Many
people are now becoming health conscious and take much pain to eat and
exercise well. Many are also looking to self-help gurus to learn about
managing their thoughts and feelings and becoming 'successful.'
Relatively fewer people, even among Christians, are taking care of the
health and prosperity of their spirit.
Many Christians seem to think that once they have accepted Jesus as
their Saviour they have a ticket to heaven. Then they work out for
themselves a 'minimum' plan involving church attendance, reading the
Bible, giving money, etc., and think that once these requirements are
settled they can focus on their earthly lives like everyone else! What
about growing in the spirit, being filled with the Spirit, bearing
fruit, receiving and ministering spiritual gifts etc.? In this way we
not only become better people but also more useful to others. Isn't it
every Christian's heritage? Won't it also bring a blessing to our
natural lives (Pr.3:7,8).
are living on the Earth with earthly bodies we tend to be more aware
of natural, earthly needs than the spiritual. Spiritual needs have far
deeper roots. If they are not met, they can affect even our earthly
lives and not just our life after death. For example, if we hold
resentment in our heart towards someone it can cause us physical and
mental harm too, like ulcers, migraine, arthritis, insomnia, etc. On
the spiritual level we stand the risk of not getting our own sins
forgiven (Mt.6:14,15). This can affect not only life after death but
also the blessings from the Father here on Earth.
But as materialism takes a stronger hold on the people of the world,
it also tends to influence the way we Christians live. Our prayers
tend to focus on our material and physical needs. If we look at the
prayer requests pouring in we see that 99% of them are about earthly
needs. Now it would be altogether wrong and unrealistic to say that we
should not pray about our natural needs. Jesus recognised that we have
need of them (Mt.6:32). He also taught us specifically to pray for our
daily bread, which represents all the things that we need for our life
on Earth (v.11). On the other hand Jesus mentioned that 'life' is more
important than food and clothes (v.25). We can understand it from what
He said about the folly of having great wealth in the world (and all
the fame and pleasure associated with it) and losing out on our soul
(Mt.16:26). It is a matter of what is more important. We have to be
concerned about our natural and spiritual needs, in the right
proportion and with the right priority (Mt.6:33).
Our being consists of our body, soul (consisting of our mind, will,
feelings and personality) and spirit, with the spirit being the
deepest part of it. If our spirit is healthy and prospering, certainly
it will bless our soul and body too. How foolish it is to take so much
care of our body and neglect the root issues in our spirit! Many
people are now becoming health conscious and take much pain to eat and
exercise well. Many are also looking to self-help gurus to learn about
managing their thoughts and feelings and becoming 'successful.'
Relatively fewer people, even among Christians, are taking care of the
health and prosperity of their spirit.
Many Christians seem to think that once they have accepted Jesus as
their Saviour they have a ticket to heaven. Then they work out for
themselves a 'minimum' plan involving church attendance, reading the
Bible, giving money, etc., and think that once these requirements are
settled they can focus on their earthly lives like everyone else! What
about growing in the spirit, being filled with the Spirit, bearing
fruit, receiving and ministering spiritual gifts etc.? In this way we
not only become better people but also more useful to others. Isn't it
every Christian's heritage? Won't it also bring a blessing to our
natural lives (Pr.3:7,8).