Everyone has, in some sense, a desire to be important. Whether in the eyes of family, friends, the general public, or even of one’s self, we want to feel significant. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, once our physiological (food, water, oxygen, etc.) and safety needs have been met, we are motivated by needs for love and belongingness. Eventually, we seek self-actualization needs. Self-actualization needs are self-fulfillment, the realization of one’s potential, and a desire to become creative. Maslow theorizes that one becomes fully human at this point. Occasionally, we distort this process and give precedence to one need before meeting a more basic one.
In our world, celebrity is a highly coveted and much revered status. Our eyes are constantly fixated on people deemed “significant” by the mass populace. To children between the ages of 6 and 14, pop and television star ‘Hannah Montana’ is significant. Because of ticket brokers, people paid $350 to $2000 a piece for her $63 concert tickets. According to research, half of women between 16 and 24 give credit to celebrities for inspiring their fashion sense. ‘Forbes’ annually ranks celebrities according to their level of power. Tom Cruise made the top of this list because he received $67 million dollars for appearing in the film ‘War of the Worlds’. Celebrities are very important to us.
One need that Maslow doesn’t include in his hierarchy of needs is our need for Christ. Instead of focusing on our own needs, we can give our lives to God and allow Him to fulfill our needs. Philippians 4:19 supports the concept that God fulfills needs through Christ. But, Christ never seems to be enough for us. We ask for recognition. We ask for celebrity status. We put stock in becoming successful in the eyes of everyone but God. Christ came not to be popular or to make headlines. He came to seek and save the lost. He came to humble himself and give his life for people who don’t deserve this gift. 1 John 3:16 states that there is no greater love than this. This kind of love is what we need.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Jesus' Knowledge is Power
It is interesting to consider to what level different cultures at different times cherish education. Francis Bacon (mmm… bacon), an English philosopher, once said that “knowledge is power”. There are a vast number of contexts in which this idea holds true. Individuals with knowledge of how to accomplish certain tasks are chosen for various careers accordingly. You wouldn’t want me performing open heart surgery or defusing a bomb as I have little knowledge of these subjects. In war, knowledge creates the most efficient and deadly technology. Knowledge of an enemy’s weaknesses and whereabouts are keys to victory and many loose their lives attempting to obtain this knowledge. Though knowledge is so important, great deals of teachers are relatively low paid. H.L. Mencken, a critic of American life and culture, states that “those who can -- do and those who can’t -- teach”. People often view education as a necessary evil, an obstacle on the way to success.
For a Jewish person in the first century, religion, law, history, ethics, and education were all equally important. This was in contrast to the Greeks’ focus on science, art, linguistics, and bodily training. The written law (Torah) and the spoken law (Mishna) were passed down through many generations. In the time of Jesus, teachers (rabbis) were highly respected. The Roman Empire sought syncretism, a concept meaning all people were allowed to have their own traditions but under a Roman perspective. The Torah, the first fives books of our Bible, was the source of all learning. The synagogue was a place of both worship and learning. Jewish boys learned to read and write at age 5, the law at age 10, and completed learning at age 18. Girls would learn at home from their mothers. At the age of 12, Jesus’ parents found him in the temple courts, amazing the teachers with his understanding and answers (Luke 2:46-47). It is clear in scripture that people were continually amazed by Jesus’ understanding and knowledge.
For a Jewish person in the first century, religion, law, history, ethics, and education were all equally important. This was in contrast to the Greeks’ focus on science, art, linguistics, and bodily training. The written law (Torah) and the spoken law (Mishna) were passed down through many generations. In the time of Jesus, teachers (rabbis) were highly respected. The Roman Empire sought syncretism, a concept meaning all people were allowed to have their own traditions but under a Roman perspective. The Torah, the first fives books of our Bible, was the source of all learning. The synagogue was a place of both worship and learning. Jewish boys learned to read and write at age 5, the law at age 10, and completed learning at age 18. Girls would learn at home from their mothers. At the age of 12, Jesus’ parents found him in the temple courts, amazing the teachers with his understanding and answers (Luke 2:46-47). It is clear in scripture that people were continually amazed by Jesus’ understanding and knowledge.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)