TO CHEW ON: "Life is more than food and the body more than clothing... But seek the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you." Luke 12:23, 31
In 1943 Abraham Maslow published a five-point theory of human needs that describes us rather well. We all have the following needs:
1. Physiological needs: the things we need to survive: water, air, food sleep.
2. Security needs: the things we need to feel secure: shelter, employment.
3. Social needs: the need for love, belonging and affection.
4. Esteem needs: the need for recognition for our accomplishments.
5. Self-actualizing needs: the need to feel we are achieving our potential.
These needs build on each other (which is why they are often portrayed in a pyramid). We fulfill the more basic needs before we work on the next level. In other words, we won't be overly concerned with satisfying our self-actualization needs when we're out of money and don't know where the next meal is coming from.
In Luke 12 Jesus, talking to His disciples, says that for someone intent on pursuing the Kingdom of God "all these things shall be added to you." When He says "all these things" could He be talking about all our needs?
He certainly makes the outright promise to provide for our physiological needs of food and clothing (Luke 12:22-28). He implies that the way to get our security needs met is to throw ourselves on God (Luke 12:33). As for our social needs — the Kingdom is a community, made up of people with whom we share a common purpose and assignment. In Jesus' example, when the Master returns and finds His faithful servants waiting up for His return, He not only praises them with words but honours them with His service (Luke 12:35-38). That would certainly satisfy my need for esteem as I'm sure it would yours. And I would submit that as we seek to live alert and in a way that would always be worthy of our King's commendation (Luke 12:39-40), we achieve our highest potential and satisfy our need for self-actualization.
Do I believe this? Do you? The way we live our lives, the places we go to get our needs met is the evidence of whether we do or don't.
MORE: "Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God"
Do your 8-12-year-olds have daily devotions? Point them to Bible Drive-Thru.
Oh yes, Paul said it to the Philippians and Ch.4:19 is just as true for us today. I am SO thankful.
ReplyDeleteMe too. Thinking about and praying for you today, Mary, that you'll feel God's presence in a real way over the next days.
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