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Needs

 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy. (Proverbs 14:21)


And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

 

          When some folks read this, they will perform the following mathematical equation: needy=lacking enough money (whatever enough means.) The problem is, while that is the most common equation, it’s not the only one. There are other things needy people may need even more than money:

Hope                    Love                     Joy              Peace

Patience                Kindness              Goodness    Faithfulness

Gentleness            Self-Control          Courage      Time

A listening ear       Encouragement     Mercy         A shoulder to cry on       

Discipline             A friend                A Break      Food

Water                   Perspective           Forgiveness Direction

Guidance              Notice                   Attention   

          The list goes on, I’m sure. Now, if you believe what Abram Maslow said, there is a hierarchy of needs and the lower levels must be met before the higher. So, the child of wealthy parents who doesn’t have to worry about material needs, but who is unloved, is still better off than the child of poverty who is loved and encouraged. The problem is, according to psychologists, the unloved rich kid may end up a psychopath or serial killer, while the loved poor kid may remain poor, or may improve his circumstances and is not likely to become a psychopath or serial killer.

          I’ve shared before about the experiment with the rats in vats of water, some in a dark room, others in the room with lights that allow the rats to see but not reach safety. The ones who have no reason to hope die quickly. The ones who have hope survive longer.

          I’m not suggesting that poverty isn’t horrible. Few of us can really imagine how horrible poverty is. I’m not suggesting that the poor person doesn’t need help. It is simply that to say that one doesn’t need, or doesn’t sense the need of things like love and hope because one does need and senses the need of shelter or food is wrong. The need for those “higher” things may be greater than the need for food and shelter.

          What this means is that it’s a sin to despise one’s neighbor’s needs, or to rank those needs according to some artificial hierarchy. A need is a need, and we all have them. Looking down on someone for needing is wrong, even if the need is also wrong. Our goal should be to either meet people’s needs or help them to change what it is they need to something that isn’t harmful to them (or anyone else.)

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