Becoming a bit of desperate is not by choice, it mainly stems out from our inner being. But at some level, we can know and control what we’re desperate about. Once we discover our wants we can desperately pursue it.
No one wanted to appear desperate for any reason. We tend to hide it as much as we can. Yet we can be desperate due to certain reasons; in our emotional being, in our material world, in our subconscious world, wanting more or wanting less, and so on.
This word ‘desperate’ is in my mind since yesterday. It must be for some reason, in reality, it was because of my needs which I don’t want to publish.
So, I waited and turn to the Bible about the word desperate. Although there are number stories and verses that came in my mind, I would like talking about a person who is so desperate – desperately wanting to see the son of God.
And, before going to the person desperately wanting to see Jesus, let us see more clearly the definition of desperate. Desperate, by definition means having a great need or desire for something, and when resulting in action it can be extremely violent, serious or even dangerous.
The Desperate Zacchaeus:
Zacchaeus, by profession, is a tax collector and wealthy man. The bible states him of his short stature. But being the chief tax collector he should have been given due regards in the society he lived in Jericho.
He is not willing to miss out on the opportunity of meeting, or at least seeing the Jesus walking o the earth. He must have been wondering about the person he had heard people talking about.
So Zacchaeus, although a man of a reputation for being corrupt, as the tax collector were generally held at that time as well, desperately wanted to see Jesus. He climbed the sycamore-fig tree towering himself up amongst the crowd to get a clear view of Jesus passing by the city of Jericho.
As recorded in Luke 19:1-10 of the Holy Bible, Jesus did saw him when he reached the spot. It reads:-
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. (Luke 19:5-6 NIV)
Desperate Secretly:
Taking into account what was written about Zacchaeus, there seems to be nothing to desperately wanted in his status considering his profession securing a job on the ruling side when their land has been annexed by the so-called outsiders.
However, on analyzing the accounts, he was secretly desperate to see the true God and was hopefully waiting on the promised Messiah. The same thing happens to many of us in this era of life now. The haves wanted for more and the have-nots are desperate to come out of the muddy despair of life until we found contentment and rest in Jesus.
Furthermore, when we are secretly desperate about a thing more it can lead to an unwanted outbreak when it can no longer be contained. It possibly resulted in both ways – good and bad.
Resulting from Desperate Wants:
Zacchaeus coming out from his wealth accumulated and not afraid of losing. It is nothing to be ashamed about and being desperate made us willing to be unashamed in shameful situations. If you are desperate about something which shouldn’t be, it is the right thing to make sure you realized it at the right time and seek help with the right help.
Desperate Both Ways:
It is shameful for him because he appeared to be doing well as the bible says he was wealthy although his way of accumulating his wealth might have been through corruption. I called it both ways because our desperate wants can either brought destruction to our existence or help us in pursuing our goals of eternal life.
One can become desperate due to the influence of materialism and desperate again to come out of the materialistic ways of living. When we have sinned by misusing our free will we easily felt desperate to escape from it once we become a subject of our sin.
If you are not yet into the bondage of sinning ways you might desperately want to taste it. Yet once you are in bondage you desperately wanted to get free. If you desperately want a savior, invite Jesus Christ in your life
I called it both ways to state the having desperate wants can cost our lives and our purpose of living. When one becomes so desperate losing control of his conscience one is already losing the plot.
The Results of desperate wants:
Here I, firstly, want to focus on the results of Zacchaeus’s desperate wants – Zacchaeus got the first-hand experience of the love, acceptance, and cleansing power of Jesus Christ.
He did the right thing for him not missing out on his opportunity. His desperate wants brought him changes in his perception of life. He goes to the right person. He was willing to lose a huge portion of his wealth since his desperate wants are quenched.
Our Desperate Wants:
If we are to ask each other, dear reader, today our desperate wants may hugely differ but I’m sure we have our own ‘desperate wants’. We may desperately want to change our ways of living, desperately wanted to have a good and healthy life, desperately wanted to clear our debt……. and so on.
But the first thing is to desperately want Jesus Christ in our life with the help of the holy spirit leading us to the father. In that way, we will be saved and our desperate wants will be quenched.
Guest of the Desperate:
By now, one could see the guest of the desperate, oh let’s say someone who recognized his wants since the word desperate might sound too harsh for a person to admit.
The guest is the one who teaches me we are known by our name. He knew what he wants before he saw him and that is his purpose of coming. The guest dined with him, stayed with him giving him what he needs, which have contentious results on the house Jesus entered – there are changes, which Zacchaeus himself uttered in his presence.
The key to handling desperate wants:
Let’s get it straight – the key is waiting with patience. When one can’t handle the situation it is better to wait patiently upon the Lord God without causing further destruction. Personally, I need better health, better financial conditions, a better way of dealing with life’s troubles. What do you want the most? Which way are you headed?
Now, I want to end here with a few questions – what did you desperately want for your life? Do you have wants? If not, give thanks to the Lord God. But if yes, let’s tell it to Jesus!
