March 6, 2019
People make mistakes because they get their wants and needs confused. While I understand the difference, I sometimes stretch my needs to include wants.
When I was attending college, one of my professors talked about an American psychologist, Abraham Maslow who studied man’s innate needs and prioritized five needs common to mankind. Maslow proposed, to achieve our innate need for happiness, there are, however, more basic needs that must be met such as the need for food, safety, love, and self-esteem.
Maslow prioritized these five levels of needs beginning with food and culminating in self-actualization (happiness).
Psychological Needs: Food, water, warmth, rest
Safety Needs: Security, safety.
Love Needs: Intimate relationships, friends.
Self-esteem Needs: Prestige and the feeling of accomplishment.
Self-actualization Needs (happiness): Achieving one’s full potential, including creative activities.
In the Old Testament, King David revealed, in Psalm twenty-three, God’s provision for each of humankind’s five needs As you study these five needs, find out the level you occupy.
Psalms 23
Psychological Needs: 1 The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.
Safety Needs: 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake.
Love Needs: 4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff-they comfort me.
Self-esteem Needs: 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Self-actualization Needs (happiness): 6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.
Christians know we serve a God who provides for our needs.