To live is Christ...even during risk and loss?

This week's chapter and last week's chapter really go hand-in-hand. Suffering (Chapter 4) and risk (Chapter 5) are universal experiences for human beings.

You might be familiar with Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, a psychological theory that attempts to describe human motivation and is often visually depicted as the pyramid below:



The basic premise (in my amateur understanding of it) is that for us to be at peak psychological health and reach our full potential our needs must be met on each level of the pyramid. Basic needs (the bottom level of the pyramid) must be met first before the more complex ("higher") needs can be met. When we have all our needs met we are at the top functional level. When our needs aren't met, the theory suggests that we will be incomplete.

I decided to put Christ in this pyramid. Where does he come in in regard to human needs?

Suffering assumes that a need in our lives isn't being met, and we experience physical and psychological consequences as a result.

Acknowledging that this is true, "To live is Christ" means Christ must exist as a need at every level of the pyramid. For our basic needs, Christ is there. For issues of safety and security, we depend on Christ. In regard to love, we consider Christ the source of love and tenderness. In terms of respect and self-esteem, our knowledge that we are heirs to God's kingdom should give us great purpose in life. In regard to morality, creativity, wisdom and intellect, we look to Christ and the Bible to supply those needs, and to be our ultimate authority in issues of wisdom and morality.