We are told by psychologists that every human being is born with three fundamental needs: The need for love; the need for significance; and the need for security.

significance: Synonyms for significance include meaning, importance, consequence and worth. Substance and impact are synonyms for "importance".

Every human being needs to feel worthwhile; to feel as if their life had meaning and conseqence; that we made an impact here on earth. It is a created need that we are born with.

In our efforts to be significant in this life, we find motivation for creativity and work and accomplishment. But, there are manifestations of those who seek to be significant in anti-social ways too. Perhaps the pursuit of anti-social (criminal and counter-cultural) significance might be a result of anger toward humiliation experienced as a child. Or, perhaps it comes from the feeling that it is impossible to be significant in a positive way, so that person will just make themselves notorious. Yes, that is the word we give those who seek significance through unacceptable behavior .. notorious. Notably unacceptable significance!

Most of us have heard of children who are so demanding of attention that if they don't get it, will "act out" to get negative attention (punishment), just so they will get attention. There are varying degrees of healthy and unhealthy pursuits of significance.

Jack the Ripper, Pontius Pilot, King Herod, Adolf Hitler and many others demonstrated the sickness of their souls in their pursuit of significance.

In general we can say that a healthy pursuit of significance used to be divided into two gender-oriented categories: women found significance in being wives and mothers; and, men found significance in being fathers and through their careers. Those lines have been blurred in contemporary times, but still most people find their significance in their family and their work.

It is interesting to see how cults manipulate people into their group through appealing to the three basic needs: love, significance and security. My wife and I recently had an experience with a fledgling cult. They really have made a real impact on the small group of members by attempting to fulfill the need for significance.

One way the cult's leadership has made their inner group of members feel special and significant is to include them in a leadership training group, training them to be "elders". It didn't seem to bother this inner circle that their number is about half of the total attendance on Sunday morning. I suppose that being part of the "annointed" 50% is still sufficient to fulfill some peoples' needs for significance.

Another way that cults make their members feel significant is to tell them that the cult has special revelation; special knowledge of God's truth. Because this makes the cult special and significant, it therefore seems to make the members think this makes them significant too, because they believe those significant ideas!

In this case that my wife and I experienced, the two leaders were constantly "speaking words" to the members, from God. This is called prophecy among charismatic and pentecostal churches.

Honestly, I have to admit that it was a "prophetic" word by the "prophet" of this cult which blinded me initially. He seemed to have such insight into what God has done in my life, and God's call on my life, and God's plan for my life, that I didn't really stop to listen and see if it was really God speaking. Of all things! I've spent enough time in Haiti to have observed that the devil is able to imitate the things of God!

But, it was only in a few short weeks that the inconsistencies of these leaders, and the manipulation of their membership became so apparent that I realized what we were dealing with. And, I do not need to find my significance in the opinion of self-authorized leaders of cults who "claim" to be speaking for God.

so, let's get back on track and ask ourselves: How does God want me to be significant? What impact does He want me to have on others, and upon history? What meaning and consequence should my life have, if I fulfill His created purpose in me?

I remember those days (25 years ago, or more) when I was so hungry to know what my gifts and purpose were in following Jesus. It seemed to be such a huge need to know. And, the answer was right there in front of me. But, because it didn't fulfill my expectations, I didn't see it. Now, looking back, I can see that I wasted a lot of energy and time because I couldn't focus upon the essentials of a worthwhile life.

I heard a song last night that really expresses the major significance we can have in life. Let's see if I can remember the words: "If I can help somebody as I travel on; if I can help somebody with a word or song; then my living shall not be in vain."

Yes, there are three ways to respond to the need for significance: we can become notorious, or our life can be vain (empty, meaningless), or we can find the significance that God intended for us to have in this life. Those who truly find significance in their lives have gotten beyond themselves.

People who attain power have not necessarily found significance, nor have people who have found fame. And, it is very likely that those who have found financial wealth have not found significance either. Because, fame, power and wealth may be all about them rather than others. But, those who help others in all they do have attained a significance in life that power and fame and wealth can never bring.