Wednesday; October 10

         During our Adult Bible Study last Sunday Morning I asked the question, “What is the most basic of all the human needs?”.  My thought process was fixed on Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, so the answers I expected to get were things like sustenance, safety and security; yet the first answer I heard was “love”.  In an effort to make a point, I dismissed this answer and continued on with my thought, but the response kept creeping back into my mind.  As humans, do we need to feel love to survive?  Sure it can help us enjoy life and might help us to become more successful more quickly, but is it a basic human need?  I have heard this answer before – and accepted it’s truth – but, just how much does our success depend upon feeling loved?  Hmmm ... interesting question.
          As I continue to search for the answer to the previous question, it did prompt a parallel question, “What is my responsibility to those around me?”.  If you take Malow’s approach, we need to make sure that people’s safety and security are provided before we move on to the “softer side of life”, but the Bible tends to take this in a different direction.  When Jesus passed His ministry on to His apostles He told them, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35).  Does this mean that we have a greater obligation to show love to people than we do to tend to their physical and fiscal needs?  Or, on the other hand, is our love demonstrated by taking care of the basic human needs … in other words, is love somehow our most basic commandment as well as their most basic human need?  Interesting!  This modern application of the “which came first, the chicken or the egg” debate can lead to some great discussion, but we must remember one important point – no matter what we do or how we do it, we have a responsibly to care for one another. 
          Think About It!

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