It's OK to be needy if you're a baby. Your first cry was your first time asking. But you soon became a toddler who could walk on his own, potty without mommy's help, eat by himself.
We Americans like to do things ourselves. Everyone has their own plate, their own Happy Meal all bagged up in individual servings. We value independence, self-sufficiency. We're taught not to need so much, ask so much, lean on others so much. The most shameful things to say in our culture: "I'm living with my parents. I don't know what I'm doing with my life. I'm on welfare. I need help."
Neediness is weakness.
I'm almost 30 years old and I'm still single. Why? Because I don't want to need anyone. Marriage is the ultimate confession of neediness. It's admitting: I am incomplete. I am helpless. I am not able to take care of myself. I am not happy. Without you. And I'm willing to take a risk with you.
In the spiritual arena, we often treat our salvation the same way. Daily devotions. It's something YOU need to do. And don't you dare ask how mine are going. It's my business, not yours.
I'm a pastor who's trying to build the Body of Christ. I preach about getting everyone involved, each one reach one, and how it's gonna take more than just preaching to finish the work. But it's just theory. In the end, church is all about me. My sermons, my ministry ideas, the direction I'm gonna take the church.
Here in Southeast Asia, though, I'm slowly dying to my independence. Spiritually I've fallen apart countless times. After coming face to face with all my weaknesses and my ugliness, I think I've finally given up. I've embraced my true identity. I'm weak. I'm a sinner. I'm a needy person.
And realizing my neediness, my weakness, it's radically changed the way I look at God. I see a different Jesus when I read the Bible now.
I see a God who's all powerful, yes. who's everywhere, yes. who knows everything, yes.
but also a God who was needy
who sought out fishermen, and asked them: Follow me!
He accepted money for his ministry
He asked for a boy's lunch
He asked for water at the well
He asked for a place to stay
He asked a favor while on the cross
He asked for prayer when he was struggling in Gethsemane
He even asked for affirmation for his identity as Messiah: Who do you think I am?
He created us, to fill that need of His for intimacy. When we praise God, we're not just saying mindless phrases to pump up the ego of some Being who's made an ultimatum. Worship is something God asks for. He needs. He craves quality time with us. He's intentionally made himself dependent on our affection.
Yes, he died on Calvary 2,000 years ago.
But right now, He's dying emotionally because you're not in His arms.
He's thirsty for you. He's craving you. He can't imagine life, eternity, a moment without you.
He's crying out: "I need you! I need you to be a part of my life! Please! I need to spend time with you!"
God is needy. He's asking. He's weak.
He's that beggar on the street, hands outstretched in supplication
He's the single mom with unpaid bills, running her hands through her hair in worry
He's the toddler that can't feed himself, looking up to his parent for love
All this time, you thought you needed God
but in reality, He's the one who needs you.
