You Are Not Alone: What Wouldn't I Want to Live Without?

 

This question was part of my Bible study on YouVersion (Referenced below).

Naturally, I think of things I couldn't live without. For instance, food and water. The question is not what I couldn't live without, but what wouldn't I want to live without? Big difference between couldn't and wouldn't. It's like the difference between a want and a need. I want coffee, but do I truly need it?

Here is the difference between wouldn't and couldn't:

"wouldn't (i.e. would not) - implies that someone (or something) in particular usually does not fulfill an activity, but is certainly capable of doing so"(www.quora.com).

"couldn't (i.e. could not) - implies that someone (or something) in particular is unable to fulfill an activity, even if s/he/it strove to do so" (www.quora.com).

By definition, couldn’t is something which can’t be accomplished, but wouldn’t denotes it is possible if chosen to do so. I wouldn’t want to live without shelter and clothing, but could I? Yes. I would be naked and cold, but could do it as long as I have food and water. Now, look at Matthew 4:4, “Jesus answered, it is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (A 7-day guide to prayer, 2021) (NIV). Jesus tells the tempter that we cannot live only on food, but we have to believe the Words of God in order to live.  So, the real question is, do I value my physical body more than having God within and His food that will never run out?

This question reminds me of the Biblical writing about the woman at the well. What is a well? Crazy question, you say, but not everyone realizes that a well holds water, but think about it in an updated direction. You may live in the country and have well water that is automatically pumped into your home upon your command—using the faucets attached to the sink. What is your water faucet for? No walking out to the well and sending a bucket (hung from a rope) down into this black hole to get a drink of water. Most often in modern country life (is that a dichotomy?) well water comes from the faucet (not a pump) or water comes from the city’s water source which you pay for monthly. If you have well water from your property pumped into your home that comes out of your faucets and/or hose, you don’t pay monthly to the city. However, you must pay for the upkeep to your well which consists of well and/or cistern and many feet of pipes, and gravel. No matter what method of entry of water you have, there is some type of payment that you must make to bathe, cook, wash, and have a drink of water.

Now, look at the story of the woman at the well who happened upon Jesus taking a refreshment break—or was he? She took a walk from the place she was staying in Samaria and went outside the city to the well where everyone went to draw their water. They dipped it into jars and pots which they carried back to the city. They may have talked to others along the path to the well who were on their way for water or they may have met others at the well and had conversations, perhaps traded gossip, construction ideas, or shared recipes—who knows what happened during the water-gathering process. It’s the same as the old adage, gossiping around the water fountain. You just never know.

The day the woman showed up at the well, Jesus was there. Waiting. For a drink of water? Or was he there for her. In the beginning of John 4, it is written that Jesus stopped at what was called Jacob’s well in Sychar, Samaria. He sat down by the well. This Samaritan woman came and Jesus asked her for a drink of water. He was alone while his disciples went to town for food. She was taken back since Jews did not mingle with Samaritans for any reason. She brought up this unwritten rule and “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’” He also said, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (The Holy Bible New International Version, 1996). Jesus took every opportunity to talk about His Father, the Living Water. He wouldn’t go without speaking of Him. He could’ve kept quiet so as not to cross the Jewish rule about speaking to Samaritans, but He was born to cross lines. He wouldn’t keep quiet.

Within these Scriptures, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman, as well as us, what we need. Man can’t live on bread alone (Matthew 4:4), but must have water. The Living Water in order to live. As I reflect on the beginning of my writing, I see that I have given a definition of the words couldn’t and wouldn’t. Water is very important for life as we walk on this earth, however, it’s most important in a spiritual walk with God. Can we live without Living Water? Sure, but I wouldn’t want to. I will say right here that I absolutely couldn’t and wouldn’t live without God’s Living Water. He is my life now and forever.

What about you? Could you or would you?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments section of this blog. No wrong answers here.

 


 

 

Warning: I cannot accept any political conversations in this blog. They will be removed if they appear. Thank you!


References

A 7-day guide to prayer. (2021, January 4). Retrieved from YouVersion: youversion.com

The Holy Bible New International Version. (1996). Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House.

 

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