What Do You Need?
I’ve Been Meaning to Ask… | June 20, 2021
Job 2:11-13
2 Timothy 4:9-18
In our series on I’ve Been Meaning to Ask…, we’ve gone from asking “Where does it hurt?” to “What do you need?” The conversation becomes more intentional with a question like that. Because implicit in the question is an offer…that perhaps I can provide what you need.
Now, this has been a long week. We had VBS every morning. We had 2 funerals, back-to-back. And every day, I knew that what I needed was a nap. And yesterday, as I finally undertook to write a sermon, I decided I needed different passages to work with. We have the story of Job, who lost everything—his wife, his children, his home, his income, and his health—all in the span of a day. And when his friends found out, they all knew that what he needed was support.
They could provide food and shelter, but that wasn’t the real need. He was grieving. He was lost. So, they went to him and grieved alongside him. For a full week—7 days—the span of God’s creation from Genesis 1. They tore their clothes. They put on sackcloth and sat in ashes with him. And silently, they grieved, too. It is compassion at its finest. They didn’t need to ask Job what he needed, and I doubt he could have formulated a response, if they had.
But what we didn’t read today is what happened next. After 7 days, Job’s friends had had enough. They had lives to get back to. And they were concerned—for themselves. They began to postulate what Job must have done to receive such a harsh punishment from God. They started giving advice. They began to judge. All in an effort to protect themselves from whatever Job was experiencing. It’s all well and good to sit with him for a while, but enough is enough. It’s time to get over it and move on. Compassion done.
Paul’s letter to Timothy is quite different. Paul writes from prison—recognizably his last months before his execution. And he has some very simple but specific requests. He needs his books. He needs his cloak because winter comes. And he needs his parchments—there are more letters to write. There is more to say. He knows how to advocate for himself, and he does so. He thinks very practically about his needs, and he asks for them.
Two very different yet common responses to the question, “What do you need?” I know I’ve often told people, “If you need something, just let me know.” It’s similar—but it’s not the same. It puts a protective space between me and the one who is hurting. It gives me time to consider whether I can truly be available if and when the person calls. And they usually don’t.
But what would happen if I asked, “What do you need?” It puts us both on the spot. It acknowledges that there is a need happening right now, and I’m making myself available to address that need. I know that there have been times when I’ve been asked that question, and I honestly don’t know the answer. What do I need? I need a vacation. I need a jigsaw—to finish final touches to our front porch. I need someone to fill in for me next month. I need to know that folks will actually sign up to help with worship support without relying on the same small group every week. I need to know that I’m not screwing things up.
I was actually thinking about this question the other day as I pondered the complicated position of supporting law enforcement, desiring better training—which means more funding—for them; and at the same time feeling compassion and concern for those coming across the border and those being abused by officers; and also getting angry at those who break the law and push accountability onto someone else when it goes sideways. In the midst of all of those emotions, I need—I want—easy, black-and-white answers. I need clarity. I need—we need--…God. We need good news. We need hope that we can actually come out of this better than we’ve been.
And so, I’m turning to our Vacation Bible School lessons today. First, I’ve got to say that this year’s group of participants and leaders were amazing. We learned facts about the rainforest, heard personal stories about experiences in the rainforest, we sang with gusto, played with energy, and just had a great time. Your kids were absolutely inspiring and kept me going this week.
On Monday, we heard the story of Noah and the flood, and we learned that God keeps God’s promises. Sometimes, I really need to be reminded of that. God promised not only to never destroy the earth with a flood; God also promised, through Jesus, that God’s love has absolutely no boundaries. God loves me, even when I’m not so lovable. God loves you, even when I can’t. This first statement—that God keeps God’s promises—is the foundation for all of the other things we learned throughout the week.
On Tuesday, we learned about Moses receiving the 10 commandments, and were reminded that God gives us guidance. God’s guidance is really quite simple. Jesus boiled it down to two basic statements: Love God, and love neighbor. It doesn’t mean that our response to that will be easy, but the direction is simple. When we use God’s compassion as a compass—I think they come from the same word—then we always know true north, and we can navigate our way through whatever we encounter because God gives us guidance.
On Wednesday, Jesus called us to come and follow. And we were assured that God is always present with us. That’s often a difficult one for me. I don’t know about you, but I often don’t feel God’s presence. I often feel alone. And it’s not something that I can just ‘will.’ I can’t make myself feel God with me. That’s where the body of Christ really comes in. That’s when we need Job’s friends to just come and be with us for a while. To be present. No advice. No judgment. Just a knowledge that we’re not alone.
On Thursday, we heard the story about Jesus healing the men with leprosy. Jesus is full of healing. Another challenging statement because healing doesn’t always look like a cure for a disease. And while we all want the things that ail us to just go away, God’s healing provides us a way through it, instead. That’s what we really need—to know that we can be whole even when we aren’t well. That’s what Job needed. That’s what Paul needed. And that’s what God promises—wholeness in the midst of illness of all kinds. Remember, God keeps God’s promises.
Finally, on Friday, we discovered our own mission—what God needs from us. We learned that God helps us share the good news—that our mission is to go where the world needs us and be there for others who are hurting. Because we all need to hear the good news—that God keeps God’s promises, that God gives us guidance, that God is always with us, and that God can make us whole.
What do you need? Maybe it’s something practical and specific—someone to climb the ladder to change a lightbulb; a more comfortable pair of shoes; money to pay a bill; help cleaning out your house. Maybe it’s something deeper—a therapist to help you work through some challenges; assistance with an addiction; clarity in making a big decision about the future; safety from an abusive spouse or parent. Maybe it’s spiritual—hope; someone to cry with; someone to laugh with; a feeling of faith. Maybe it’s a combination of many of these.
May you be brave enough to acknowledge what you need. May you be vulnerable enough to ask for it. May you be humble enough to ask another what they need. May you be generous enough to offer what you can. And may you be grateful enough to accept what others can give.
May your life be a series of candles—lighting the ones that appear to waver and gaining your own light from the light of Christ, himself. In today’s baptism, we’ll light a candle for Jude from the Christ candle as a reminder that his light comes from Christ and not from himself. And we’ll hear the words from Matthew: “Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.” In VBS, our theme song was “This Little Light of Mine.” I invite you to stand and sing with me before we move to our hymn of the day.
Pastor Tobi White
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
Lincoln, NE
