Tonight, I went out and picked up Taco Bell for dinner—just
for me mind you. My wife and son
had already eaten, but I had a school board meeting that ran a little late, so
I was on my own for dinner. I
didn’t necessarily need Taco Bell, but it sounded good, and since I’m the only
one in the family who likes it, it’s my food of choice when I’m eating by
myself.
Their Mexican Pizza is by far the most exquisite, delectable
junk food I can imagine. I’m sure
it quite literally will be the death of me.
And there in lies the issue doesn’t it. The things that bring us temporal
pleasure in this world are killing us, literally killing us.
In church today this issue came up not once but twice, in
Sunday school and in the pastor’s message. That’s usually a pretty good sign that I need to perk up and
pay attention.
In a society where our basic needs are met, it seems that our
goals automatically shift to what will give us the greatest pleasure. We blindly follow Maslow’s Hierarchy of
Needs: Physiological Needs > Safety Needs > Belonging Needs > Esteem
Needs > Self Actualization.
Pleasure in terms of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs is
fleeting. Your physiological needs
may be met today, but tomorrow famine might strike the land. You may be safe today, but tomorrow
someone might steal your wallet/purse and your identity along with it. You may greatly love the family you
belong to, but tomorrow they could all be killed in a car crash. You may have great self-esteem, but
tomorrow you may be humbled. Self-actualization
does not last because, this may come as a shock to many readers, the world does
not revolve around you. It doesn’t revolve around me either.
In reality, there is no hierarchy of needs. The road to fulfillment doesn’t look
like a rainbow pyramid. There are
no steps to reach self-actualization.
There is only one need, and it’s not some thing that you can just check
off a list; in fact, it’s a He not a thing at all, and His name is Jesus
Christ.
When we do
those things that please God, He takes care of the rest. When we give up self, we can be
Spirit-actualized, which is an eternal pleasure that no circumstance will ever
take away. That’s Good News!
So, I’m sorry Taco Bell, but as tasty as your Mexican Pizza
is, I’d give it and you up in an instant if it pleased my savior, and I’d
happily say that about any temporal pleasure on this Earth.
Now dear reader, let me ask you: How willing are you to give up your worldly pleasures for
the sake of the One who gave Himself for you?
5 comments:
Visiting from Hear it/Use it and I'm intrigued. I love the simplicity of how it all comes down to Christ. Great thoughts.
It is so hard to keep our needs and our wants separate.
Truly, nothing here in this world lasts. Everything is just a temporary fix. The Lord had taught me to be contented before but now, as I go through a tough battle at work, He is teaching me to even be more...He is our All in All...Glory be to God! God bless you and you're right! That junk food would do you no good! May you remain strong with His power!
I found this very challenging. I accepted Maslow’s hierarchy thirty years ago and I am still supporting the teaching of this theory as you say “blindly”. This made me think about the many Christians who have all their needs met and are “spirit-actualised” although they be on the lower levels of Maslow. Thank you for the thought provoking teaching.
A spiritual discipline it seems I must learn every day. Thanks for the unique encouragement!
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