Understanding this lesson will provide the student with one of the tools to deliberately live for God through realizing how to distinguish between real needs and what I may merely want. To have a good grasp of this concept is foundational for understanding the next lesson which describes the two fundamental paths people do take toward trying to fulfill their needs. This tool contributes toward a toolbox which when fully loaded explains one of the resounding central messages of scripture about serving God and it points the Christian down a path toward living deliberately for Christ.

As the previous lesson suggested, our behavior and expressed attitudes are our attempts to obtain the goals of security and personal worth (a meaningful and secure identity). Behavior is goal driven. People do things for a reason, even when they claim "I don't know why I did it." It may not be immediately obvious at first what someone is trying to obtain, but all behavior is goal driven. What that goal is for any particular person will be determined by what that person believes is needed in order to "be somebody" and to "be secure."

Opening the class:

1) Have the class make a list of those things that they feel that they really need.

2) Next have them make a list of those things that they really want.

3) Briefly reflect on Philippians 4:11-12 and 4:6-7.

Is the internal peace which Paul describes desirable?

Are most people content regardless of the circumstances?

This class takes one step toward understanding the secret to which Paul is referring.

A. Primary and secondary needs

1) Primary needs are our genuine God created needs for security and significance (knowing that I have worth). Repeatedly throughout scripture, we find God trying to fulfill humanity's needs for security and self-worth (identity) through offering Himself as the foundation of security and a covenant relationship with Himself as the grounds for a significant identity.

a) Although the intended message within the following scriptures is often a call for people to rely upon God or the affirmation of what God has provided through what He has done, by providing a divine basis for security and identity these texts are built upon a recognition that people legitimately have the need for security and worth (a meaningful identity). Matthew 6:25-34; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:1; Genesis 15:1; 17:7-8; Exodus 19:5-6; John 8:31-47

b) Questions which can be asked about verses such as the preceding ones:

How significant in a person's life is or should be their identity as someone who belongs to God?

As contrasted with other forms of identity (ethnicity, profession, achievements, possessions, etc.), is the identity which God provides equivalent, superior or inferior? Why? Does the message of Ecclesiastes have any bearing on this subject?

When God provides something for people, what does this suggest about what God has provided? Does God engage in meaningless activity? Do people truly need what He provides?

What role did Jesus' awareness of his identity and security play in his life? Consider John 13:3-5; Luke 2:49; John 10:11; Mark 8:31 What might this suggest about the identity of being a disciple or a servant of Christ? What might this suggest about the relationship between our behavior and where we obtain our identity and security?

2) Secondary needs are those paths which people use in order to fulfill their primary needs.

a) When people say, "I need this" they are usually describing a secondary need. To use the example of Saul from the previous lesson, Saul would have said, "I need to have David killed." Saul would have said this because he considered David to be a threat to the significance and security of his dynasty. Secondary needs are the means people use to meet their primary needs because they believe that these paths offer what they seek.

b) The contrast of primary and secondary needs is the distinction between "wants" and "needs."

3) Illustrating the difference between primary and secondary needs.

a) Traffic light.

(1) Physical safety is a part of our need for security (primary need).

(2) At a crosswalk, the lighted symbol of a man walking indicates I should be able to cross the street with safety. Therefore I want that lighted symbol of a man (secondary need). I value the lighted symbol of a man.

(3) The lighted symbol of a man has no independent or primary value at all. It is only a means for me to secure a more important need. Do I really need a lighted symbol of a man in order to live? No. People have lived for thousands of years without them.

(4) When I know (believe) that the traffic light button gives me the lighted symbol of a man, I find myself motivated to press button. I value pressing the button because it contributes toward my safety.

b) A new car

(1) People do not need new cars. In America, most people believe that a new car carries status and mechanical peace of mind, not to mention its function of transportation. Although our society is geared toward personal transportation, people do not need new cars.

(2) Yet, many people might claim that they really need a new car. The reason is because they believe the status, the power of personal independence, freedom from mechanical worries, etc. will provide them with the security and significance they need. Therefore people can learn to need a new car.

c) Money illustration

(1) People do not need green paper. Paper with ink on it is not essential for living. But I can buy food with it that will satisfy my need to overcome hunger (physical security)

(2) Therefore I learn to need money or better yet, I learn to want money to satisfy my true needs.

d) When people claim they need something, are they describing primary needs or secondary wants?

4. People love (value) what they believe will take care of their needs. People tend to devote themselves to whatever they believe will provide for their needs.

a) We want whatever we believe will make us secure and significant

b) Using the model from the previous lesson, our "wants" exist at the level of our heart. The heart is home to our values, desires, motivations, etc.

c) What are some of the things people typically want?

(Get rid of my problems, better personality, slimmer figure, big car, business success, an enriching marriage, a great legacy, status, recognition, approval or acceptance from others, etc.)

d) From where do people typically attempt to obtain their identity?

When a person meets another person for the first time, how do they typically identity themselves? What are people trying to communicate to the other person? What are the some of the many different means that people use to try to be somebody?

 

B. Digging in God's Word

1. Scripture reveals that God is the only foundation for truly fulfilling our two deep needs of security and significance.

a) Being secure comes from eliminating sources of worries. Because of who God is and what He has made available to mankind, scripture repeatedly calls humanity to trust in God as a solution to worrying. Matthew 6:31-33;10:28-31.

b) Being significant comes from obtaining "what truly matters." Jesus relegated the things of this world to the trash heap by pointing to their inability to solve the true deep need of humanity. Mark 8:36-37 See also 1 John 2:15-18. In contrast, Jesus provides what truly matters. John 1:12-13

 

2. In the wisdom literature, what truly mattered? Eccl. 12:13

C. Application: Getting Intensely Personal

1. Christmas time scenario.

• What does it mean if the only gifts a family can afford to give at Christmas time are hugs, kisses and maybe some fruit? Are the parents successful? How do the parents feel about themselves if they can only give fruit? Is the desire to have lots of presents the drive to fulfill a true necessity (primary need) or simply the means (secondary need) someone is using to attempt to fulfill their true needs?

• Applying the "what makes people tick" model to this scenario

Parents often believe (and kids too) "We need lots of presents under the Xmas tree." Perhaps for many different reasons, both parents and children value (love) lots of presents. And so the predictable behavior is to spend more money than what they can afford.

How does this fit with the scripture: "Owe no man anything except the continuing debt to love one another." Romans 13:8

Should authentic Christian living change the behavior of families at times of gift giving? What would it take for families to change their behavior?

2. New designer clothing scenario.

• How does a person feel when they wear these clothes? How does it make a person feel when they go shopping and spend money? What is the objective of wearing new designer clothing? Is such clothing a true necessity (primary need) or simply the means (secondary need) someone is using to attempt to fulfill a true necessity?

• Should the message of Jesus alter the degree to which a person loves designer clothing? How can the gospel alter this aspect of a person's life? What must happen if the gospel is going to alter the deep dependence a person might feel for designer clothes?

3. "I need to be perfect" scenario

• What is a person trying to achieve by never making a mistake? How does such a person feel when they make a mistake? Are such efforts to be perfect a true necessity (primary need) or simply the means (secondary need) someone is using to attempt to fulfill his true needs?

• Should authentic Christian living change this behavior? What would it take for someone to change their love for perfection? Where would that love be transferred to?

People can never stop needing security and significance, but we can learn to stop pursuing certain false and empty routes of trying to satisfy these needs.

The next class in this series is: Two Divergent Paths People Take Toward Fulfilling Their Needs.

Article of Interest Might Be:

From Consumerism to Community

Living Without Credit Card Debt

Barry Newton, Copyright © 2000

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