Hey, carpool crew. I'm Pastor Justin and I'm really glad you're here today. This is a special bonus episode for what should I do if I don't know the difference between a want and a need? I wanna talk about this today because I think it's happening a lot in my house lately. And maybe it's happened in your houses too. Alright, so let me tell you what's going on at my house. My kids have been loving their iPads, maybe a little too much. And listen, they don't get a ton of time on them. Just a little bit. But when it's time to put them away, oh man. Lately you would think I just told them that they can never have fun again. That there will never be sunshine and that all bunnies are gonna disappear. Yeah, that's extreme, right? They'll say things like, 'but I need it. I need it.' And they'll be begging. Maybe the five-year-olds, I love them so much, they will even start crying. And every time they say that, I'm thinking, you don't need this. Do you really think you need this? You really think this iPad is a need? Now, maybe for you it's not an iPad. Maybe for you it's the Xbox. Maybe it's grabbing mom or dad's phone. Maybe it's a PlayStation. Maybe it's a Yoto player. Maybe it's some device and you think, 'I need it.' Well, today we're talking about how not everything you want is something you need. Let's hear what Jesus says about this. He's a really good person to learn from, right? Of course, our verse comes from Matthew chapter 6, verses 31 to 33. Here's what it says, stick with me: 'So don't worry saying, what will we eat or what will we drink? Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be provided for you.' So here's what Jesus is teaching. God knows what you need. Food, water, love, care, people in your life. We think of that as something called community. It's the people you are with, the people you live life with, hang out with, create memories with. Those are needs. But there are a lot of things we want that we actually don't need, and sometimes we mix those up. So let's break it down. A need is something you have to have. You need food. You need water. Yes, you need sleep. And you need people who love you and know you and care about you. A want is something you really, really would like, but you could still be okay without it. Like an iPad, a video game, a certain toy, a collection of dinosaurs, and absolutely more screen time. That's something you could do without. Now, here's where it gets really tricky. Sometimes wants feel like needs. Am I right, carpool crew? I understand that. When my kids say 'I need that,' it feels real to them. I don't dismiss that. I get it. But if we take it away, they're still okay. They're still safe. They are still loved. They still have food and water. They still have people in their life who love them and care about them. If Jesus were sitting next to you right now, I'd think he'd say something like this: 'Friends, I know there are things you really want, and it's okay to enjoy good things. But I want you to learn to trust me for what you truly need, because I will always be there to take care of you.' See, that's the key. God promises to meet your needs. Not every want. Let me give you a real-life picture. Have you ever said, 'I need a snack,' and your parent says, 'you just ate,' or 'we're about to have dinner'? See, it's actually a want, that's not a need. Or maybe, 'I need more time on my game,' but really you've already had plenty. It's a want. You just want to beat the level or get a higher score. It's not a need. If you stopped the game, you'll still have food, you'll still have water, you'll still have people that love you. You will still have God to take care of you. Now, let me tell you something I've seen in my own house. When my kids put the iPad down, even though they don't want to, sometimes something interesting happens. They start playing more. They start building more. They start talking more. And sometimes they talk loudly and sometimes they start laughing and then they start wrestling and then trouble happens. And then suddenly you realize that they're totally okay. They don't need it. They're having fun, because what they needed wasn't a screen or a video game or something to listen to. What they needed actually was connection with each other. Connecting with those they love and who love them. They needed some movement to get the wiggles out. They needed some time to live out their creativity, to draw and create and build. They just didn't realize it at first. So here's how this could play out for you. First, pause and ask, is this a want or a need? That's a tough question, am I right? It is hard to ask that question. But if you ask it, and if you're honest with yourself, you'll be able to quickly tell if it's a want or a need. Sometimes that pause is a deep breath. You take a deep breath in and then you let it out and you say, 'okay, is this a want or is this a need?' Second, trust that God already knows what you need, and your parents know what you need too. And your grandparents and your aunts and uncles, whoever you're with, they know what you need because they love you. You don't have to chase everything you want because God already knows, and those loved ones who are raising you, they know too. Third, and make sure you don't forget this, be thankful for what you have. Gratitude helps you see clearly. When you are thankful, when you show gratitude, it matters. It actually changes your heart a little bit. It makes you more joyful because you're able to say, 'thank you.' So let's come back to our one big thing. Not everything you want is something you need. Don't forget that, friends. No matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. Before you go, answer this question together. What's one thing that you really want right now, and what's one thing you know you need? I'll see you later on Carpooling with Jesus. Have a good one.
