HIGH AND LOW-ORDER NEEDS
It would appear that this makes logical sense, and that God did
create in us certain appetites (like hunger, thirst, drive for
sex, need for love) as innate drives. Implicit in this is that
if these needs are not satisfied, the person 'hungers' towards
their satisfaction. If they are great enough, they may indeed
consume or preoccupy the person entirely, until the needs are
finally (if ever) satisfied - for instance, hunger, or requiring
to use the toilet.
Our needs are like a driving force that ensures that the organism
is satisfied. If the needs are met, then the person is free to
meet other more intellectual, emotional and spiritual needs as
well as the needs of others (so it is thought), and is also freer
to pursue the fulfillment of drives that are no longer essential,
but may be purely indulgent.
So in a society where virtually everything is available, when
is enough, enough? When do our pursuits ever become satisfied?
When are our needs for certain things and events ever filled
to the full? What is that line between satisfying a legitimate
need for, say, food, pleasure, excitement, fun, money, and the
lapse into the realm of preoccupation, self- indulgence, lust
or - as Professor Wolf Wolfensberger of Syracuse University might
say - hedonism?
THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
A recent report conducted in Geneva reported by the ABC earlier
this year stated that if the world's seven richest people (men)
were to disperse their wealth, poverty in the world would be
eradicated for 20 years!
Contentment, on the other hand, implies happiness, a satisfaction
with one's situation, a sense of deep peace with one's lot, no
craving for what one does not have. Contentment of this type
is indeed a rare thing in this world. In fact, it is to be despised.
Why? Because it is dissatisfaction that drives the economy
and the desire for growth. People are fed a diet of ever increasing
"objects" and "experiences" to satiate the
senses - but senses that are to be never filled, never complete,
never content. Industries, businesses, entertainment must be
continually seeking new ways to thrill, shock and attract more
expenditure and expansion.
To be content is to be in contradiction with the world.
WHAT FIGHTS AGAINST CONTENTMENT?
Once again, we see the areas of legitimate need overwhelmed by
a sense of dissatisfaction with what one has - and a deep sense
of wanting what one does not have enough of - not for need, but
for want, for desire.
Notice what Paul says: PURSUING HIGHER-ORDER NEEDS
Notice:
2 Cor 5:2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our
heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
Rom 8:23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits
of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption
as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Phil 1:23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having
the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much
better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for
your sake.
Notice then how a godly perspective on life literally turns Maslow's
hierarchy of needs upside down! It would suggest that low-level
needs must be satisfied before any higher needs can be obtained.
Another way of putting this is, "I can't possibly respond
to the needs of other people until my own needs are sufficiently
satisfied; therefore I had better concentrate on meeting my own
needs first. Once I have done this (which might take a while),
then I might be in a position to respond to others".
Yet notice:
Can we believe this? Are we able to reject our emphasis for
sustaining ourselves? Are we able to really rely on God to meet
our needs as we obtain from Him the purpose of our being?
Only under these conditions can we be truly content.
What do you need? Really? What do you long for? Are they
the same?
Some years ago, Abraham Maslow developed one of the
better known hierarchies of human need. He postulated that for
a human to be satisfied in an area of higher-order needs like
love, security, belongingness, self-discovery etc., they require
that their lower-order needs for things like good health, food,
shelter, protection from the elements, etc., be satisfied
Indeed, it is generally believed that it may be impossible for
other higher-order needs to be addressed until these 'lower' needs
are satisfied.
What is a Christian response to all of this?
Luke 3:10 And the crowds were questioning him, saying, "Then
what shall we do?" 11 And he would answer and say to them, "The man
who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who
has food is to do likewise." 12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and
they said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" 13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than what
you have been ordered to."
People in certain influential roles sometimes felt compelled,
perhaps by tradition, to extract more from people than the law
actually required. We find today that bribery is rampant in
parts of the world. If you want telephones installed for a company,
for example, you can be told that it "can't be done for 3
months." Yet if you provide $10,000, in cash, it will get
done immediately! (An actual incident)
Luke 3:14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And
what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do
not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely,
and be content with your wages."
Here, John's words seem to imply the necessity to soften the effect
of corruption, corruption that seeks to satisfy more than is
legitimate. Needs that have become greed. When is enough enough? When would people really be content?
James 4:1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among
you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You
are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do
not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong
motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses (idolatry is like a non-sexual form
of adultery. It is a betrayal: love towards God is turned into
love and adoration towards something else that is not a god.
Idolatry stems from initially seeking to satisfy one's needs.
But if we are not careful, the processes that are used to satisfy
our needs become exalted and therefore worshipped, followed, obeyed,
with the idol demanding more and more sacrifice), do you not know
that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore
whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy
of God.
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh
and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not
from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but
the one who does the will of God lives forever.
We are talking here about something that is very fundamental to
a Christian way of life - but which is also very hard, humanly
speaking.
Phil 4:10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last
you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned
before, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be
content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also
know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance
I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both
of having abundance and suffering need.
Here Paul explains his joy at their support, but he is also teaching
an important lesson about contentment. He is saying, "We
need to learn to serve each other and to share both suffering
and abundance, but beyond that, not to allow a preoccupation with
either suffering or abundance to rule our lives."
But how?
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
This is the real source of Paul's contentment. All his needs
are satisfied. But he had to learn it (v 11).
Phil 4:14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in
my affliction. 15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the
first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church
shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than
once for my needs. 17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the
profit which increases to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full and have an
abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus
what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice,
well-pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to
His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
So why be anxious or preoccupied about our needs?
1 Tim 6:6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when
accompanied by contentment. (They go together, but why? 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot
take anything out of it either (A statement of reality against
the false hope placed on accumulation). 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be
content.
Its as though Maslow's hierarchy has been turned up side down: because our higher-order spiritual needs are fully satisfied,
food and clothing are no longer of central concern. The lower-order
needs are just that - low-order, not a priority. But if you start
treating low-order needs as though they were a priority, what
happens?
1 Tim 6:9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation
and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge
men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil,
and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and
pierced themselves with many griefs.
Contentment, however, creates an image of lying back, taking it
easy, being unconcerned about anything, of striving for nothing,
of longing for nothing, as though contentment lacks passion.
But we have been speaking of contentment with our low-order
needs - the areas we have seen that entrap people, and which lead
to idolatry. We are to instead strive for those needs that bring
real satisfaction.
1 Tim 6:11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.
1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal
life to which you were called, and you made the good confession
in the presence of many witnesses.
Psa 119:20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at
all times.
In age of glitter and tinsel, and every manner of sensualistic
pursuit, can we learn to be content? Can we place emphasis on
the things that are truly important, that will bring real satisfaction
and fulfillment - to take hold of our calling and not let it go?
Mat 6:19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in
and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also. 22 The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes
are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full
of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great
is that darkness! 24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate
the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and
despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. 25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your
life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you
will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body
more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap
or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his
life ? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the
lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which
is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not
much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What
shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your
heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow
will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Clearly, a priority of focus is provided by Christ that contradicts
the usual (carnal) way of things, that directs Christians to focus
on that which is of supreme importance. We are to focus our
attention and effort on that which is highest, on that which is
spiritual and permanent rather than on the immediate, temporary
and physical. We are promised that if we do so, the immediate,
temporary and physical will be taken care of.