DID YOU KNOW?
developed the Hierarchy of Needs, which is depicted as a pyramid. He believed that humans must meet their lower-level “needs” before they can pursue higher-level “wants.” At the bottom of the pyramid are our Physiological needs, such as hunger and thirst. Next up is Safety needs to ensure that we are protected from harm. Before we can pursue things like companionship, esteem, or self-actualization; we must be able to meet those first two needs!
Anyway, how many times have you heard (or perhaps said) “I need that” when it was really a want versus a need? It can sometimes be a little less obvious whether things are true needs or just nice-to-haves. We can easily find ourselves feeling like we need something that, when you really break it down, does not actually fall into that category.
Now, companies spend millions, if not billions of dollars each year convincing you that you need whatever it is they are selling through agressive advertising, and
it is nearly impossible to avoid exposure to those messages. Fortunately, with a little critical thinking and introspection, you can rise above the temptation to buy things you do not truly need on a whim, and filter out the wants from the needs. And by doing so, you will empower yourself to make smart financial decisions, avoid distractions, and find contentment in the things you already have.
Lastly, what does Christ say about this in the bible. Perhaps you have heard God described as “Jehovah-Jirah.” That name means “The-Lord-Will-Provide.” The Old Testament Israelites should have learned that lesson well. For forty years they roamed the wilderness, while the Lord wonderfully provided precisely what they needed. However, they soon forgot that the Lord was daily providing their needs. Every morning God dropped manna (a small bread-like flake) upon the ground. When they needed water, He miraculously provided it from a rock. Still, it was not long before they got their needs confused with their wants, and began to complain. Sound familiar?
I read recently that sales catalogues exist to create dissatisfaction with what we already have. That statement is probably true about our entire culture. Wherever you go it seems we are told we do not yet have enough, or the latest, or