I am quite sure that anyone who has taken a psychology class at some time is familiar with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs—presented in the format of a 5-tier pyramid, our basic needs for air, food, water, and sleep comprise some of the foundational elements.  As we ascend through the levels, our need for safety is next, followed by our social needs for belonging and love.  The top two levels are esteem needs—self-esteem, independence, responsibility—and toping the pyramid is Self-Actualization, a place of achieving fulfillment through creativity and realized potential.

We have in God’s Word, the Bible, amazing promises that assure every believer fulfillment of our every need—even the one’s for personal fulfillment.  On the survival level, He promises, “do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we   drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:31, 33).

When our trust is in the Lord, we have safety:  “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).  “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10).  “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, who He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5,6).

God recognized humanity’s need for companionship in the Garden of Eden and He created Eve so that Adam would not be alone.  He also gave them the ability to create, and families were born.  Nowadays, one effect of mankind’s fall from relationship with the Father is a stab to the heart called loneliness; “but God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” and “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:8, 5).  Relationship with God is restored, nothing can separate us from His love, and we are encouraged to join other believers in fellowship (Hebrews 10:25)—providing for us that sense of belonging first to God, and then to a community of believers.

Achieving the top two levels of the pyramid, for the Christian, takes a sharp turn in understanding than makes any sense to the academic or scientific world—Jesus tells us, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35); “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up” (James 4:10), in fact, the apostle Paul advises, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant” (Philippians 2:3-8).

Our truest identity is found in God because it is “in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).  I imagine we often miss our potential as Christians because thinking generated by this world’s economy and valuing what society indicates is important influences our focus.  We also have an adversary who “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8)—we may not hear him roar physically, but his roar implies the intensity of his attacks; we resist him by remaining steadfast in the faith.  I also believe that the enemy does not want to see us progressing towards our full potential and identity as Christians, children of our heavenly Father, “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 2:9).

When I initially considered writing this blog, I thought about the parable in Matthew 25:14-30, about a man traveling to a far country and distributing his goods and finances to his servants for safekeeping.  I confess that I have compared my writing efforts to gifted, prolific writers—weighed myself in the balances and realized my inadequacies—something akin to the servant in the parable given one talent and comparing himself to the others who their master entrusted with more of his resources.

There are several problems with making comparisons, the most important one being that we are not keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).  Comparison also has two possible outcomes, either pride in our accomplishments or discouragement with our efforts.  The apostle Paul admonishes us in Romans 12 not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, for every one of us is given grace gifts for our unique function within the body of Christ.

God’s admonition to Joshua as he was about to embark on the journey to establish God’s kingdom presence in a hostile land was, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9)—those are His words for us, also, as we pursue our own kingdom destiny.

I think one of the most beautiful kingdom principles found in the parable of the talents is that, whatever gifts of grace God has given us, when we invest them for His purposes and glory they will be multiplied—and we are blessed.  I also believe that some of the greatest gifts our Father pours into the lives of His children are “being” gifts rather than “doing” gifts—being encouragement to the discouraged, comfort for those who are suffering, discernment for the embattled, wisdom for those younger in the faith, rich in good works (which has nothing to do with money)—I cannot begin to list the potential we have in Jesus through the Holy Spirit!

However, I want to encourage you to recognize the many resources available through the power of God dwelling in your heart–I urge you to invest them in kingdom life “where neither moth nor rust destroys….for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20, 21).