My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19
If you have taken a sociology or psychology class, you may have learned about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Abraham Maslow theorized that a person’s needs can be divided into five types: physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization. Physical needs encompass basic needs such as food and water. Safety needs involve not only security in one’s place, home, or job, but also predictability and a sense of control in one’s life. Love and belonging involve feeling loved, loving others, and belonging to a social group. Esteem is the need to feel good about oneself. This includes receiving recognition from others. Self-actualization is the need to live up to potential and feel fulfilled. Maslov believed that a person will fulfill the basic needs first, then merge into the next needs up the hierarchy.
Today’s verse said God will supply every need. Will God meet your needs beyond the basic ones that Jesus promises in Matthew 6:33? He satisfies the need for safety, in your daily life and throughout eternity (Psalm 91:11, John 3:16). He fulfills the need to love and be loved. God loves you so much He sent Jesus, and His most important commands are to love Him and others. And what better social group is there than the family of God? He satisfies the need for esteem when you realize that He created you. And He and His people offer the encouragement you need. Following Him provides self-actualization as you step out in service to Him and others.
Of all the needs a person has, the greatest need is a relationship with God in Christ. As you seek God first, He has Maslov’s hierarchy of needs covered. Ask the Lord to reveal to the people and officials of the United States their need for Him, above all other cares and concerns.
Today’s Verse: Philippians 4:19
9 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Matthew 6:19-34
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys 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. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
