I Just Wanna Be A Sheep Series

Maybe that’s part of why David used sheep in this analogy because their needs and their wants are so close together. Sheep need and want good grazing and a quiet source of water to drink from. That’s it, don’t want a bigger pasture, don’t need more water then they can drink from, just water and grass. And that’s what the shepherd does for them, leads them to the place where they can find all they need. He doesn’t take them to brown wilted pastures he leads them to green pastures. He doesn’t direct them to a rushing torrent to drink instead he leads them to the still waters.

Listen to what Jesus said in Matthew 10:29-31 Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. Or again in Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Or Matthew 6:28-30 “ And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!

Our problem isn’t that God doesn’t provide us with what we need, it’s that sometimes he doesn’t provide us with what we want. Kind of like the Janis Joplin song: "Mercedes Benz" (I used a MP3 clip here but you could read the lyrics)

Mercedes Benz by Janis Joplin

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?

My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.

Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,

So Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a color TV ?

Dialing For Dollars is trying to find me.

I wait for delivery each day until three,

So oh Lord, won’t you buy me a color TV ?

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a night on the town ?

I’m counting on you, Lord, please don’t let me down.

Prove that you love me and buy the next round,

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a night on the town ?

Everybody!

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?

My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends,

Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,

So oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?

That’s it!

Do I think we ought to live in poverty? No. Do I think that we shouldn’t have nice things? No. Do I think we shouldn’t drive nice cars? No. Do I think that God should provide all those things for us? No. It’s funny if you watch the progression of churches and denominations. They often begin reaching the down and outers. Those on the fringe of society and yet within a couple of generations they are made up of affluent folks. Why is that? Could it be that when those on the fringe get saved they begin to give up expensive vices and start providing a days work for a days wage? That God makes a change in their hearts which makes them better citizens and better employees who are more responsible with their resources? Could be. I truly believe that God wants to provide for our needs and he wants to make us the type of people who will be responsible for the rest of it. Are you trusting God to provide your needs?