I’m certain that God has us on earth and not in heaven on purpose. However, there’s something about giving ourselves to the priorities and purposes of God.
When I look at the life of Jesus and see his focus on God’s will and compassion for the needs of people, I know there’s a holy balance we all need to have.
We are human and we have human needs. Food, sleep, companionship and meaningful work are all important. Necessary even to live effectively and with purpose.
And yet, Jesus, as our primary example on living displays a level of conviction and wisdom that sidesteps natural needs when necessary.
Personally, I’m challenged when I read these two familiar passages which I never saw related before.
First is the devil’s temptation to provoke Jesus to turn stones into bread to satisfy his hunger.
Second is the disciples’ concern over Jesus’ food intake when he was talking with the woman at the well.
In both of these scenarios Jesus has gone for a time without eating. The devil questions and tempts him in an act or manipulation while the disciples are moved with genuine concern.
The two motives are completely opposite and yet Jesus’ responses are very similar.
To the devil, Jesus refuses to tap into his rightful provision and authorized power to satisfy a natural need. Instead, he quotes the scripture, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Jesus gives us, the reader, his followers, the insight that feeding our natural body is not enough. It will not satisfy us. It will not endure or last. But true life and satisfaction comes from the will and words spoken from God’s mouth.
And then, to the disciples, Jesus displays this same principle. It must have been a while since he last ate and yet Jesus was completely immersed with the woman at the well.
In fact, he first brought up the issue of the insufficiency of water or sex or human love with the woman. He exposed her repetitive yet unsatisfactory “drinks.” Instead he offered to her a reservoir of endless satisfaction.
So the disciples were definitely puzzled by Jesus’ behavior, but they of course didn’t question him. But as time when on and they cracked open their lunch and everyone was eating except Jesus, then they asked him, “are you going to eat?” ( verse 31 )
And Jesus tells them in his own way, “I already ate. I’m no longer hungry. ”
Then he explains explicitly, “The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started.”
Every human, even Jesus experiences natural desires and needs. There’s nothing wrong with meeting those needs in natural ways. And yet, I feel or see there are higher levels of pleasure or satisfaction that supersedes food, sex, water sleep, etc.
Falling in line with the will of God for your life can put you in a state of flow and fulfillment whereby all other appetites are stifled for a time.
Likewise, there also seems to be seasons where demonic forces try to provoke you into calling on God or his grace to prematurely meet a natural need. This would definitely fall inljne with James 1, when he teaches how our praying will not be answered because our motives are so selfish and self serving.
My prayer for you and myself:
God, today, I pray for your love and your pleasures would captivate our hearts, teasing and seducing your people to be ruined from every other lover everything that tries to set itself as more important than you. In Jesus Name. Amen.