Humanity's Basic Needs
My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
Adam and Eve were created spiritually alive. The attributes they experienced before the Fall became glaring needs after the Fall.
1
Acceptance was replaced by rejection; therefore we have a need to belong. Ever since Adam and Eve's sin alienated them from God and disrupted human relationships, we have experienced a deep need to belong. Even when people come to Christ and fill their need to belong to God, they still need the acceptance of people. You will never understand the power of peer pressure in our culture until you understand the legitimate need to belong and the fear of rejection we all share.
2
Innocence was replaced by guilt and shame; therefore we have a need for a sense of worth. Many psychologists agree that people today generally suffer from a poor sense of worth. The secular psychologist responds by trying to stroke the human ego and encourage us to improve our performance. Your worth as a person is not an issue of giftedness, talent, intelligence or beauty. It's an identity issue. Your sense of personal worth comes from knowing who you are: a child of God.
3
Authority to rule over creation was replaced by weakness and helplessness; therefore we have a need for strength and self-control. There is no one more insecure than a controller. The fruit of the Spirit is self-control, not spouse - or child -control.
Only Christ can meet the most basic needs of humanity such as life, identity, acceptance, security and significance. These needs are eternal, unlike our physical needs. If we present Christ as meeting only our physical needs, we will have stiff competition from every humanistic organization.
Let’s Pray:
Father God, I reject any counterfeit fulfilment Satan offers me. I will live by every word that proceeds from Your mouth.
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.