The hymn “All I Need” was written by Charles Price Jones, and is a beautiful testimony of our dependence on Christ.

In this day and age, many Americans think we need a lot of things to live. Whether it’s extreme addictions such as drugs or alcohol, hobbies such as video games or golfing, or even things like chocolate or other food. We even wear T-shirts that say things like “All I need is coffee and Jesus.”

But do we really need these things to live… or even to be happy? So much of the world doesn’t have access to the luxuries that we have, yet we often put so much emphasis on these things as if they are life necessities.

We might protest that it’s all just a figure of speech or a joke… we don’t really need those things to survive, we’re just being sarcastic or funny. But stop and think about the last time you couldn’t get your favorite drink at Starbucks, or the temperature on the thermostat was a few degrees too cold. Did you react any differently?

Our attitude when we are minorly inconvenienced tends to show what we truly need to make us happy. When we complain about small things or when we let it ruin our day, it reveals the inclination of our hearts.

The Bible is clear that the only thing we truly need is Jesus. While it’s okay to have other comforts and privileges, we have to make sure that our happiness isn’t dependent on anything else.

It’s hard not to let things get to us, but it’s much better to find our joy in Jesus. While everything else in this life is temporary and unstable, He will never change or leave.

So I encourage you to focus this week on making Jesus your source of joy by spending time with Him and remaining constant in your spirit, no matter what happens.

You can read the lyrics to “All I Need” below, and you can listen to the tune here.

All I Need

Verse 1:

Jesus Christ is made to me,
All I need, all I need,
He alone is all my plea,
He is all I need.

Chorus:

Wisdom, righteousness and pow’r,
Holiness this very hour,
My redemption full and free,
He is all I need.

Verse 2:

Jesus is my all in all,
All I need, all I need,
While He keeps I cannot fall,
He is all I need.

Verse 3:

He redeemed me when He died,
All I need, all I need,
I with Him was crucified,
He is all I need.

Verse 4:

He’s the treasure of my soul,
All I need, all I need,
He hath cleansed and made me whole,
He is all I need.

Verse 5:

Glory, glory to the Lamb,
All I need, all I need,
By His Spirit sealed I am,
He is all I need.

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