Maslow’s hierarchy of Needs – Does it cover all human needs?? (A Biblical Perspective)
Abraham Maslow was an American Psychologist
who developed a hierarchy of needs to explain the innate needs of man from a
basic level to the highest level.
At the lowest
level are the Physiological rather the physical needs such as air, water, or
food. Once the physical needs are met, mankind go beyond to look for safety needs
which cover personal security, employment, health..etc. Once they are met, he
or she looks for a sense of love and belonging. Beyond this, one seeks esteem
which covers respect, self-esteem, status, or recognition. The final stage
according to Maslow is the self-actualization where a person finds fulfilment by
trying to reach his or her full potential. While this hierarchy of needs suggests
that higher levels of needs arise only after the lower ones are met, it does
not suggest how they could be met.
How does Bible
deal with the subject of human needs? Does it suggest a similar pattern?
When God created
man, he created him in his own image. God did not plan his child to climb up
through a hierarchy of needs. Instead, he placed him in a garden which supplied
all his needs. The air was fragrant, supply of food was abundant along with God’s
personal care. His self-esteem was inestimably high as God gave him dominion
over the earth (Gen 1:26). The first couple did not live their life to reach their
full potential. They lived a life beyond their potential right from the
beginning. They were given the mission to multiply and fill the earth (Gen
1:28). They were designed to have full dominion over the fish of the sea and
over the birds of the air and over every living this that moves on the earth
(Gen 1:28). God put the man in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it (Gen
1:15). They were to stay under God’s blessings, thrive and flourish and live in
a state of supernatural stewardship at a level beyond their potential under the
guardianship of God. Rather they lived at a level beyond themselves.
When Adam disobeyed
God, they were driven out of Eden and came under the curse. He fell headlong from the highest to the
lowest of the levels. He had to eat bread by the sweat of his face (Gen 3:19).
He had to eat of it in pain all the days of his life (Gen 3:17). He had to
build his life through toil and turmoil and find his way up through the
hierarchy of needs.
So, Maslow’s
hierarchy of needs could be presented as below in the context of Eden with the
introduction of an additional level “Beyond Oneself”.
Yet while on
earth, men and women have needs that still need to be met. How did Jesus
address those human needs? Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious
about life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what
you will put on. Is not life more than food and body more than clothing? Look
at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in the barns,
yet the heavenly Father feeds them”. Are you not of more value than they?......................For
the gentiles seek after these things (the hierarchy of needs) and your heavenly
Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness and all these things (All needs) will be added to you” (Mathew 6:
25-33).
He is suggesting
an approach and attitude that is distinctly different from the teachings of the
natural world. The natural world is suggesting you to toil your way through the thorns and thistles (as it is part of the curse in Gen 3). But Jesus is asking one to seek God and his righteousness. This is
clearly a level beyond the natural. While we engage ourselves at such a level, we
would find our needs being met. “My God will supply every need of yours
according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19).
Does this mean one
does not need to work? Even Adam had to work and keep the garden (Gen 1:15). A
bird must still make its nest. But it does so without being anxious about the
branch or the material for its nest. It does it with full assurance and full
joy. Such an approach opens the channel of blessings. The emphasis is on receiving
the blessings of God with the attitude of a bird in the air and stay blessed and
assured at a level beyond oneself while living on the earth. In life while at
work, we should sing along like a bird
“Blessed
Assurance, Jesus is Mine
Oh! What a
foretaste of glory divine”
In a nutshell
Jesus has placed us back on the highest level “Beyond Oneself” while we are on
the earth besides meeting our eternal need of salvation. The natural world will
have to work their way up through this ladder. However, we have a choice to remain
at this level in communion with the Triune God.
So, Maslow’s
hierarchy of needs could be presented as below in the context of eternity.
Christian history is full of examples of how people lived “Beyond Themselves”. The Mighty Roman empire was brought down by an ever-growing bunch of believers without a single soldier. A man who was murdering and torturing Christians (Paul oversaw Stephen’s murder), became arguably the biggest evangelist of Christ and influencer of humanity who continues to transform lives through his epistles after accepting Jesus. Daniel came out of Lion’s den unhurt, illiterate fishermen of Galilee continue to inspire millions even today and a gentile author Luke (Luke was not a Jew) found a place for two of his books Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles in Bible, the very Word of God, the bestseller of all time. The list goes on and on till it could go on about people who lived beyond themselves by relying on Jesus and you could be the next.
Let’s no more be
anxious to climb up through a hierarchy of needs. God has provided for all our
needs. Let’s choose to stay with Jesus and live a life “Beyond Ourselves”.
Prakash T John
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