GOD HAS NEEDS TOO!
Sa 1:2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children
1Sa 1:7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
Eric and Lucy were the only children of a very wealthy family, but they could not have been more different in character.
Eric only talked to his parents when he had a need and He could be very persistent about it! He would wine, cry, scream, scheme and do whatever it took to get what he wanted. In fact, Eric was a goal-getter! As far as those goals were his and no other persons! He knew how to get all his needs from his father! He was only polite or greeted you only when you could meet his need. The first word out of Eric’s mouth whenever his father came back from a trip was always ‘Dad, did you buy chocolates for me?’ There was always a need to be met with Eric since his father had come to know that the only way to keep Eric talking to him was to ignore his needs as long as he could.
Lucy on the other hand was so adorable. She was the joy of her father. She curled on her father’s laps when he came back from a trip. In fact that joy of seeing her father was all that mattered to her. She wanted to know how his trip was; she needed full details of what he did and where he went to. Oh, Lucy could be persistent but not like Eric. For unlike Eric she longed to spend time with her father just talking or asking several questions that came to her very curious mind. Her parents knew with Lucy we don’t need to have any gifts or withhold any to get her attention. So she got all she needed and some she never thought to ask for!
In the Christian race, I have also come across the Eric and the Lucy. Some are those who declare fasting and night vigils only when there is a need in their lives. They only crave a relationship with God as long as it advances their own personal needs! While on the other hand we have those who will seek God just to be with Him.
Could it be that God is withholding the answer because He knows you would never pray as much if the answer is given?
We must examine our relationship with God to see if we only seeking for our needs to be met or if we have a heart that seeks to meet God’s needs .Ops! That was a shocking statement, Yes, God has needs!
Many of us are in a give me, give me relationship with God and are not bothered if we meet His needs or not. We go to Him with our demands and ask Him to give it to us. When we get our needs we rush off and only return when we have another list of needs! Our relationship with God is based on what God gives to us and this puts no demand on us. We don’t change the way we live, we don’t want to honour God, or change the ungodly company we keep, and we don’t do anything that meets God’s demand on our lives.
In the above scripture, Hannah was a woman that kept going year to year. I believe her childlessness and the torment of the other wife may have driven her severally to ask God for a child. I mean you can’t go to the presence of God for that long and not ask God to intervene in your situation but God seemed quiet about Hannah’s issue until a day came when Hannah changed her prayer strategy.
Finally, Hannah went to God with a bargain God could not resist. Read it below:
1Sa 1:10 -11 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
Now that was one prayer God could not ignore. Hannah had changed from an Eric to a Lucy! She had realized that God also had a need in his house and that need was for a man to serve him. Here God needed a prophet and Hannah was willing to give Him one. Little wonder that God answered her prayer!
1Sa 1:27-28 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
Friend do you realize God also has a need or has your own need so clouded your mind that you don’t care about what God wants. Hannah forgot about her needs for a moment and had a divine intervention from God. She lent to God a son and God paid her back with 3 sons and 2 daughters.
1Sa 2:21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
What a great return on investment!
Today you may look around and ask yourself, ‘what is God’s need?’ Well, it may surprise you that there are several but Let me share with you a few.
- He needs a place to dwell. Isa. 66:1-Can you imagine God having accommodation problems on the earth? He has an office space in heaven but needs a house here on earth. Heaven is His throne. A throne is located were a kings authority goes out from.
- He needs true worshippers. Those who will worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:23
- He needs a man who will stand in the place of prayer. Ezk. 22:30
- He needs labourer s in his harvest-Matt. 9:37;7
These are a few of the needs of God and i know there are more but choose to met one and God will not forget to repay that which you have given.
Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
