The field of motivational psychology was pioneered by Abraham Maslow. His hierarchy of needs is so well known that I treat it as the classical hierarchy. The first four priorities are to satisfy bodily needs, security needs, affiliation needs and status needs. The fifth is the least explored and the hardest to talk about in business motivation. However, it makes a lot of sense in the spiritual motivation of Christians.
As happens to prominent people, Maslow’s name is invoked by David Sze in a Wellness magazine article of July 21, 2015. Sze used Maslow’s framework to describe “The Twelve Characteristics of a Self-Actualized Person.”
Self-Actualization has become a key concept for psychology aimed at helping men and women become more of what they want to be. An underlying theme is “do what is best for yourself.” Without reference to God, such counseling often produces divorces as the counselees are encouraged to break free from constraints so they can get all that they deserve.
Reading David Sze’s list of the 12 characteristics of a self-actualized person, I realized they are parallel to what happens when the Holy Spirit grows a believer to a higher level of faith. As I list the 12 characteristics, think about where the power comes from to change from where you are to where you want to be. Or for believers, to where God wishes you to be. It takes special motivations.
Self-actualized people:
- Embrace the unknown and the ambiguous
- Accept themselves, together with their flaw
- Prioritize and enjoy the journey, not just the destination
- Are inherently unconventional, though they do not seek to shock
- Are motivated by growth, not by satisfaction of needs
- Have Purpose
- Are not troubled by small things
- Are grateful
- Share deep relationships with a few and affection for all people
- Are humble
- Resist enculturation
- Are not perfect
I could preach on how the Spirit works to advance each of these qualities in a 12-part series.
David Sze must be a Christian, or he wouldn’t be conscious of the many characteristics that are foreign to those who stay in their natural condition and do not experience the new life in Christ. Many such characteristics even remain foreign to believers who stay stuck at an early stage of faith development.
It takes Spirit-changed believers to be motivated by growth and not by the satisfaction of needs, to be humble, to be grateful and not troubled by small things, to have affection towards the whole human race, to confess they are not perfect, to resist enculturation. Enculturation is something mostly talked about among Christian churches.
There is a long line of preachers who assume that if they just list human ideals and connect them with Christian behavior, their followers will somehow achieve them—on their own. That might change the behavior of passive Christians for a few days. But it is not going to create a desire to embrace the journey of the ambiguous, to be unconventional, to move beyond the satisfaction of needs, to share a deep relationship with a few true friends.
Stay with the thought of relationships. It does not come naturally to humans to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Some want to focus on how unfair it is to women that Paul writes, “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” But that is just a sub-point. His major theme is for wives, husbands, children and slaves to submit to one another, because that is what those under the power of the Spirit will be convicted to do out of reverence to Christ.
Most of what even Christian motivational preaching tries to do does not actually change much behavior. Lasting change happens only when the Spirit moves God’s people to new behaviors by changing hearts, by changing inner motivations. Then they can grow to be closer to God and thus realize self-actualization.
It seems to me that the Spirit produces that kind of growth through a totally individualized path of experiences which, when influenced by the power of the Word (both written and Incarnate/Jesus), result in spiritual transformation.
Well said. I do believe that growth happens through “a totally individualized path of experiences.” Such growth is hard to program because personalities are so different. The preached Word is basic but I don’t think it is usually sufficient. The Word as fellow believers have experienced it is where real change happens. Testimonials are basic, but we have to learn how to do that in a congregation.
My effort to get Virtual Church Fellowship up and running has been frustrating. Last week was a technical breakthrough for the need for more programming (with more expense). I am optimistic I will have something in several weeks.
Dave
Keep plugging
I totally agree with what you said. This is the approach you used every successfully with me. It allowed me to grow. Slowly, yes, because not everybody grows at the same pace. By allowing Christ in your life, it opens inroads for the spirit. You know I have always been adamant about the concept of the spirit. I am now seeing exactly how much the spirit has acted in my life.
Glad that your seeing the Spirit at work in your life. I am also glad you and I both experienced Pastor Martin’s Spirit-oriented ministry.
I really appreciate this article. Very well written and very helpful. Thank you very much! Keep up the good work.
Blessings!
Rod
Thanks you very much for your words of appreciation. They mean a lot as I work on future communications.
I use the following verse quite often:
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
If indeed these are to be the results of God’s Spirit working within us then for all too many they have hit the pause button on their faith journey. Maybe they feel knowing what Jesus did is all they need to know. For some life just got in the way and maybe they will resume their journey after a while. In our sin-filled prosperous country perhaps the most popular prevailing attitude is the “Just in case” believer. We want all the pleasures now, but I’ll put just enough in to cover my eternity as well. They would be blind to the true blessings that come from the Spirit because they are too busy pursuing the pleasures of this world. To them there is no urgency and no burning desire to share this message with others. A shallow faith is easily uprooted and even worse it is easily persuaded to accept things that are not of God. (Lack of the true knowledge of God that comes from a close relationship with Him at every level). We must take that time to learn of Him through studying His Word, the ways of His Son Jesus and of His Spirit. Some of that learning must also come through practice. To experience what Jesus Himself became, a humble servant to others so that they would learn what is truly pleasing to the Father. As always I suggest that your congregation begin doing P.A.C.K. (Planned Acts of Christian Kindness) out in your community. Bring Jesus to life through your simple surprising acts of kindness trusting completely in His Spirit to lead to you those that only God knows what is in their hearts and the plans that He has for them. In His time these will be revealed to you in very powerful and unforgettable ways causing your own faith to be deepened with each testimony. Anyone can do PACK because showing love & kindness never goes out of style and when you give all the credit to the Lord in the process the power of the Holy Spirit will do miraculous things! Get the FREE PACK program at http://www.acts18.org God bless!
Re: Galatians 5:22-23, these fruit of the Spirit are key to the abundant life available for believers Too often they are taught as virtues we should strive for. I think they are products the Spirit gives us.
Re: the “Just in case” believer, We want all the pleasures now, but I’ll put just enough in to cover my eternity as well. True, especially in mainline churches where many have not a strong commitment and are working at the affiliation and status needs
Re: “They would be blind to the true blessings that come from the Spirit because they are too busy pursuing the pleasures of this world.” The issue of course is how to help them elevate their horizons. Scolding does not accomplish much of lasting significance. We can encourage them to put themselves into the Spirit’s workshop–in the company of other believers who are taking their faith seriously. PACK certainly helps. Better would be an environment where such “doers” explain their motivation. My goal is to provide resources to help believers in a congregation share their motivations, especially their Spirit-driven motivations.
I could look it up, but what is the fifth need, and why is it spiritually significant
I gather you are referring to the classical theory of five kinds of needs. Abraham Maslow calls the fifth and highest the need for “self actualization. He is very vague on what that looks like beyond a desire to develop special talents, like an artist. I found when teaching in business school that most people really don’t have that kind of need and thus motivation. The driving need for most business people is status, like promotion and wealth.
Thank you for your message!
I would be very interested in learning how to preach on how the spirit works to advance each of the 12 parts!
Any ideas or references? I am an Episcopal priest on medical leave. Using my time to grow and learn. Thanks
At this point I don’t have examples. Looks like you may have the time now to flesh out your own ideas. I would be glad to coach you. Let’s share the challenge.
David, as always, you touch our hearts with the simplicity of how important it is to allow the Spirit to work in our lives and not to be afraid of or dubious of what changes are possible with a submissive and willing heart. I think of what Paul said about putting on “new clothing” every day in one’s journey being led where the Spirit leads.
Thank you for your dedication and thought process in making these blogs possible.
Thanks again for your encouragement. The fundamental issue is fear of the unknown. The first word of angel appearances is “Fear not.” Taking that leap of faith seems to be beyond most believers. That gets us back to the Spirit that Jesus promised would given to those who ask the Father. What we humanly can do is show examples of people who have overcome their fear.
It seems many in our culture would want to live life at its best. The Gospel unlocks the key to our best as the plan of the creator. Our best gift from God is ourselves. The Gospel sets us free to cooperate with God for our sanctification which does seem to mirror self actualization. The church has great gift for culture introducing Christ.
Well said. The Gospel is life abundant in the qualities of life that count–the Spirit’s gift of changing our hearts. One observation from faith developmental psychology is that most people cannot see beyond the next step of growth. They cannot envision a quality beyond whatever change they aare looking for at the moment. The job of churches is to help them appreciate what they can become by sharing stories of others around them who have been drawn closer to the Spirit.
Examples are much better than theoretical descriptions. Examples from people close are better than from believers who seem to live in a very different world.
David, I thank God for you, your faith and how the Holy Spirit is guiding your ministry.
Just discovered this and only read a few of your entries. I share your hope rooted in the Spirit, witnessed in the sacrament of Holy Baptism revealed in new life. Be assured of our prayers.
This is SO what our country & world needs, if only people would truly trust in God, Christ, the Holy Spirit & be in the word….to grow, Good job, Dave.
Thanks, Carol.