Surviving is Overrated

 

With the economy in a slump, many people are becoming worried about finances and how they will make ends meet.  When a person worries about money, he does not have much motivation or time to think about or do anything else.  In the mid 1900s, psychologist Abraham Maslow theorized that if a person could not meet his basic survival needs, it would be nearly impossible for that person to feel secure or become socialized and feelings of esteem or achievement would be limited.  Furthermore, Maslow believed these needs had to be developed in a hierarchical order.  If a person cannot get one of his more basic needs met, it will be impossible to move on to a higher need, thus making the ultimate goal of self-actualization unattainable.  Self-actualization is defined as achieving one’s ultimate potential and is a motive which is universal to all humans.  This holds true for the majority of society. However, one group stands apart.  In the sixth chapter of Matthew, Jesus tells his followers not to worry about what they will wear or eat but only concern themselves with seeking after the kingdom of God and his righteousness.  The Apostle Paul’s basic survival needs were rarely met and yet he was self-actualized.  Christians are not always self-actualized people but have the potential to be no matter their socio-economic standings. Paul was beaten with rods, stoned, and shipwrecked, as well as made to suffer toil and hardship through sleepless nights in hunger and thirst.  However, he served God to his ultimate potential.  Many might think this is a radical way to approach Christianity, but, in reality, it is very scriptural to be a self-actualized person even without meeting the most basic survival needs.  Christians can potentially lose sight of God and his righteousness due to the other cares of this world. SFT Awareness is a program that can equip Christians with the attitudes and skills needed to become self-actualized in order to serve God to their ultimate potential, even if it conflicts with surviving..