Maslow's Hierarchy vs. Jesus' Heirarchy

Surrendered Business

Maslow says that we need our physical needs met first. Love, esteem, and self-actualization become possible once our basic needs are met. From Maslow’s viewpoint, we all start at the bottom, checking the box for each level in order to move up toward self-actualization. His premise is that if our basic needs are not met we will be too consumed with worry and anxiety to focus on the deeper things of life.

As Jesus often does, He flips the script. “For this reason, I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” (Matthew 6:25, 33 NASB2020)

It’s as if Jesus is saying, “You have heard it said that you should be worried about your physical needs first, but I say to you seek My Kingdom and My right relationship with the Father and the rest of this is going to be provided for you.”

How much of any given day is spent worrying about how our needs will be taken care of? As business owners with staff on payroll, we face the potential for worry to be magnified as we think about not only our own physical needs but also the needs of our team and their families.

What do we do with this worry? Jesus kindly says, “Stop it!” Instead, focus your attention on My Kingdom as you love Myself and others. Let Me add the provision. As Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Interestingly, while Jesus tells us to not worry about our own physical needs, He teaches us that bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth requires meeting the physical needs of other people. Jesus leads the way in taking the form of a servant and meeting the needs of other people. These needs range from a cup of water to being an incarnation of His love. Instead of worrying about our physical needs to be met, we are to trust Jesus to meet these needs for us and join Him in being concerned about the needs of others.

There is something beautiful here when it comes to business. As business owners, we are stewards of the business and servants to those who work in the business. As we seek to serve the employees and vendors who ultimately serve the clients, we are creating a conduit for physical, social, and spiritual needs to be met.

Maybe Maslow was right. It does start with the provision of basic physical needs. Jesus flips the script by telling us to be concerned about meeting the needs of others as we let Jesus worry about meeting our physical needs.

As business owners, when we are worried about how our basic needs are going to be met, in essence, we are insisting that the people in our business serve us. Instead, we are challenged to trust the Father for our needs as we serve others. In the words of Jesus, “Whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant.” Matthew 20:26 NASB2020

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