Understanding Wants Versus Needs

 Transcribed by AI

Radio Voice of Life presents the programme "Play and Shore." Radio Voice of Life, Radio Voice of Life, Radio Voice of Life, Radio Voice of Life, Radio Voice of Life, Radio Voice of Life, Radio Voice of Life, Radio Voice of Life, Radio Voice of Life, Radio Voice of Life, Radio Voice of Life, Radio Voice of Life, Radio Voice of Life, Radio Voice of Life. What is need? Need is something that makes life difficult without it. Like bread, love, or hope. Or simply having someone who understands you.

Jesus Christ in the Holy Bible says in the Gospel, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Mother dear, does this mean we must first set our hearts right? Yes, my daughter, it starts with the heart, then the hands. Mother dear, I don't want new shoes anymore. Well, my daughter, can you tell me what you want? You want those children to have bread and smile.

Did you see, girls? Did you understand the heart of bread? Well, if I want something, I should first ask myself if it’s a need or just a desire? You said it perfectly, my daughter, well done. God, help our hearts to understand what our needs are and what our wants are. Make our hearts like Your heart. Amen. Amen.

Beautiful children, listen closely to your mother and father, and be smart and wise. Sweet children, now let's listen to the next part of the programme together. Hello dear friends, I am Fanfisha. I pray that you all are well and prosperous. Today we want to talk about an important topic: the difference between wanting and needing.

Have you ever paused to think about things we really want but when we get them, we aren't happy? Perhaps it’s because they were just wants. Greetings to you, dear sisters and brothers. I am Maryam, and I am very happy to be with you again. Sometimes, my heart wants everything to be as I wish. But when I wait, I understand that some things need to be learned gradually over time.

Hello to our dear children. Hello to our dear children. I pray your lives are full of blessings. Dear children, God knows better than us what is beneficial for us and what is not. Just as it is written in the Holy Bible, the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, verse 8, "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

Hello to all my dear kids. Don't think that your aunt has forgotten you. I always listen to your words. Children, wanting often comes from feelings. From the heart, from desire, and from seeing others. But needs come from thought, experience, and wisdom. For example, friends, I want to eat ice cream. But I need healthy food.

If I only listen to my wants, I might feel happy. But if I listen to my needs, I will stay healthy. Or I might want to play all day. But I need to study. Studying may not be fun, but it shapes my future. My sweet children, wanting is not always bad. But when it takes the place of need, life looks back at us.

We want to grow up quickly. But we need to learn from our childhood. We make mistakes and gain experience. Sweet children, there is a very important question that everyone should ask themselves: what happens if we don’t have something? If the answer is that our lives won’t fall apart, it’s likely a want, not a need.

Sometimes, we want everything to come easily. But our real need is patience, effort, and learning. For instance, I might want my friend to always be with me. But I need a few true friends who will stand by me in hard times. God always wants the best for us.

Sometimes, what we want makes us weak. But what we need makes us strong. Sweet children, even adults sometimes confuse the two. A wise person is one who stops, thinks, and then decides. Dear friends, take a moment to think. What do you want today and what do you really need?

Sometimes I can’t tell the difference. But with the help of family, prayer, and thinking, I can make the right decision. Prayer helps us a lot. When we don’t understand what we need, ask God and trust the peace that comes after praying. Wanting without thinking leaves a person stuck and hopeless.

But need makes a person strong, calm, and happy. Let me give you another example. For instance, I want everyone to love me. But I need a few people who truly care for me. Yes, how beautifully you said it, Banafsha. I want to play all day, but I need to learn things that will benefit my life.

Beloved children, the Holy Bible always shows us the best ways. Just as it says in the Book of Proverbs, chapter 3, verses 5 and 6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Many times, a person thinks their need is the same as their want, but when they look closer, they realise that something more important lies in their heart.

Dear sisters and brothers, we have experienced that sometimes God gives us something different. Not because He doesn’t love us, but because He knows better what is good for us and what is bad. Friends, for example, we may want to eat sweets every day, but we need to eat healthy food to strengthen our bodies. Do you understand, dear children?

Successful people first recognise their needs, then slowly and patiently take steps until they achieve good results. Sweet children, in our home, I have a suggestion for you: write down your wants and needs. This will clarify your mind and heart.

I’m not sure my friends at home will accept this suggestion, but I believe that when a person understands what their real need is, they no longer chase after useless things, and then they learn to appreciate the important things more. Yes, my lovely girls. Children who are listening to us on Radio Voice, know that God always gives us the best, even if we don’t fully understand it.

Yes, dear friends, today pray and ask yourself whether what you want is a real need or not. My friends, sometimes I think that wanting is like the wind. It comes quickly and goes just as fast. But need is like the roots of a tree. If it’s not there, the tree, no matter how beautiful, will still wither.

Yes, Banafsha is right. I have experienced this myself. Some things I wanted so much, when I got them, I found my heart still felt empty. But when I learned the things I needed, like patience, respect, and kindness, my heart found peace. My children, God sees our hearts. He knows what we want and what we need.

Sometimes we want things that bring only a moment of happiness. But God wants things that transform our lives. Sweet children, I've grown up and have experience. Sometimes I wanted things that I thought I couldn’t live without.

But today, as I reflect, I see that God's denial of those things was a blessing. For instance, sometimes I want to grow up quickly. But I realise I need to live in these moments. To laugh, to learn, and to make mistakes. I understand that I need to be grateful. Grateful for family, for bread, for health, not just chasing after what I don’t have.

Dear children, when you learn the difference between wanting and needing, your lives will become calmer, you will regret less, and contentment will lighten your hearts. So, dear children, always remember, before every decision, take a moment to pause, ask yourself, pray, and let God show you the right path.

Dear friends, I hope today each of you takes a small step towards your real needs. And remember, we are never alone; God is always with us. Sweet children, I have learned many things from this part of the programme. How about you? I am sure you have learned many good things too.

Yes, very sweet and lovely children. Now I want to ask you what you learned from this part of the programme? And what was interesting for you? Now let’s listen to the next part of the programme together. Auntie, if you only had one choice, what would you choose? New shoes or something else?

Well, I would choose new shoes. They are getting old. It hurts when I walk around too much. But my heart longs for warm bread, the kind that makes you hungry just by smelling it. Bread can be found every day, while new shoes aren’t always available. No, Maryam, they aren’t always available.

Ahaha, it seems your discussion today is quite extensive. New shoes or warm bread, huh? Exactly? Auntie, tell us which one is more important? Well, auntie, tell us, what should a person want first? That’s right, dear aunt. Before I answer you, let me tell you a story I heard years ago.

Once upon a time, there was a girl, about your age. Her name was Fariba. Fariba lived with her mother; their life was simple. But their hearts were very big. One winter day, Fariba went outside, and her shoes were wet. Water was getting into her shoes. Her mother said, "My daughter, if you want something today, just choose one thing."

Fariba thought hard but didn’t say anything. Mother, why did she say to choose only one thing? Because their resources only allowed for one thing, dear. Sometimes life is like that. You have to choose between the things you need. Fariba went to the market and first reached a shoe store. She saw the new, beautiful, warm shoes.

The shoemaker said, "My daughter, these shoes will keep your feet warm." Fariba touched her shoes and felt a shiver of excitement. But just then, she smelled the warm bread. The baker had just taken the bread out of the oven. Warm bread? Ah, exactly. Just like that, Fariba's heart leapt at the smell of bread. The baker said, "My daughter, this bread is hot. Take it home and fill your stomach."

Fariba thought to herself. New shoes or warm bread? Her heart asked, "What do I want?" But another part of her heart asked, "What do I need?" Mother dear, what is the difference between wanting and needing? Well done for asking. Wanting means something that makes our heart happy if we have it. But needing means something that makes life difficult without it.

Fariba remembered that her mother had said they had no bread in the morning. She remembered that hunger weakens the body. With a calm voice, she said, "I will take the warm bread." She took the bread and went home. Her mother saw the bread and smiled, saying, "May God bless your heart, my daughter." So what happened next, dear mother?

Dear mother, wait, the story isn't over yet. A few days later, she heard that her mother had brought new shoes for Fariba. "I saw that you chose bread. Someone who understands need will have their wants provided by God." So, was it a coincidence, dear?

It's not a coincidence, my dear. But a person whose heart is right will never be left empty-handed. So, what did we learn from this story, girls? This story reminds us that not all beautiful things are the most important. First, we need to check if our stomach is full or not. Is our heart at peace or not? What is the need?

Well done, dear girls. Sweet children, this story was so beautiful, sweet, and instructive. I learned a lot of new things, and may it be a lesson for you too. Yes, sweet children, now we will listen to the next part of the programme.

Dear sweet children, today I want to tell you a story that is mentioned in two places in the Holy Bible, showing a truth: God’s heart is greater than the law. This story happened on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was the day that God said people should not work, and it was sacred.

The Sabbath, indeed, is a day of rest in our language. A day when people thought that if they did something, God would be angry, even if that work was healing. So helping someone wasn't allowed on the Sabbath? Yes, dear mother, some people thought that way. Now listen closely; nearby there was a pool of water called Bethesda.

Around it were blind, lame, and paralyzed people waiting, hoping to get healed when the water was stirred. Among them was a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years. Nearly a lifetime. He had no one to help him, no hope to keep his heart warm. Oh God, how heartbreaking.

So did Jesus see that man? Yes, dear mother, Jesus saw that man. Not the crowd, not the water, just him. Jesus approached and asked him, "Do you want to be healed?" The man began to speak of his pain. Of his loneliness, and how others always reached the water before him.

Jesus didn’t wait for the water to move; He said, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." At that moment, the man was healed, picked up his bed, and walked. But this healing happened on the Sabbath, and many people became angry instead of rejoicing. Mother, why were they angry? Because they were more attached to the law than to humanity.

Dear, because they were more focused on the law than on people’s needs. Now listen to the second part of the story. One day, on the Sabbath, Jesus entered a synagogue. There was a man there with a withered hand. People had come not for prayer but to see if Jesus would heal him on the Sabbath. They wanted to see if He would heal the sick again or not.

Well, did Jesus know this? Oh yes, dear mother, Jesus knew their hearts. He brought the man forward so everyone could see. He then asked, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?" No one answered. Silence fell over the crowd.

Because they knew the truth, but they didn’t want to accept it. So what happened next, dear mother? Jesus looked around at them with anger, but not in rage, rather with compassion. He then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." The man obeyed, and his hand was restored.

Without touch, without any ceremony, only with the power of His word. Now let me read you this part from the Holy Bible, the Gospel of Mark, chapter 3, verse 4. Jesus asked the people, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil? To save life or to kill?" But they kept silent.

Why did they get angry again? Because healing challenged their authority. Jesus deliberately healed on the Sabbath to show that God is not bound by the law, and the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. He wanted to show that if the law hinders love, it has lost its purpose.

Jesus stood beside the lonely and in front of the judgement of all? Exactly, my dear, in front of that pool full of waiting souls and in the synagogue full of judgement. He showed that God always sides with the broken-hearted. Those who have been lying in pain for thirty-eight years, and those whose hands have been withered and tortured by others for years?

So, if someone is alone, does God see them? Yes, dear mother, God always sees, and no day, even the Sabbath, is greater than a man’s salvation. Yes, dear children, now let's listen to a song together.

Yes, dear children, this story from the Holy Bible was very instructive, and I learned many things I didn't know. I have learned so much from this beautiful and sweet story. Yes, Maryam, I learned a lot too. Yes, dear children, we have reached the end of this sweet and lovely programme. Now I commend you all to God. Goodbye to all of you.