This Sunday our focus Scripture is Psalm 23. This very familiar Psalm begins with the verse, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." Eugene Peterson renders this verse in The Message, "God, my Shepherd! I don't need a thing!"

As I've reflected on this verse I've asked myself, 'What does it mean to not want.' There are certainly things I want. I've had my eye on some pretty expensive sandals on Church Street. I would like to have some new pots and pans for my kitchen. But I don't think this is the kind of 'want' to which the Psalmist refers.

I think the Psalmist is talking more about the basic needs of life ~ both physical and spiritual. There are certain things we need ~ food, clothing, water, love. Without these life is either not possible or empty. It's affirming to know that God cares about our well-being.

So does that mean that if we don't get that new car or expensive pair of shoes, God doesn't care about us? I like what Dennis Bratcher wrote in his Scripture reflections, "...this Psalm makes a bold claim about God, that he really is concerned about the physical 'lacks' of our lives. Indeed, we must be cautious here lest we confuse the affluence and materialism of our consumer society with genuine needs."

Can you say with the Psalmist, "God, my Shepherd! I don't need a thing!"