Sigmund Freud's answer to the above question was that the human being's deepest need is "pleasure" (see #3,4,5) But the inspired writer, Paul, had a different view (1 Timothy 5:6). Moses realized that the "pleasures of sin" only lasts for a brief period of time (see article and Hebrews 11:24-25). An individual who has lived and experienced the trials of this life, soon learns that all pleasure is not good (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Hebrews 13:4), and all pain is not evil (James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:5-9).
Alfred Adler believed it wasn't the will to pleasure that was man's deepest need, but the "will to power." In recent years, we have seen that women who have achieved power-based positions in the corporate world, have in many cases, sacrificed their husband, children and family for that power.
The deepest need of human beings, is to have a sense of value and self-worth. There are many folks in our society who derive a sense of value and self-esteem from affiliations with friends and memberships in groups, rather than that from an appreciation of their own inherent worth as persons (Matthew 10:30-31; Luke 12:7; Matthew 16:25-26). The real value of a person as a human being, can only come through the Fatherhood of God (Matthew 6:9). If a man is only a product of evolution, then he has no more intrinsic value than a horse or a cow. His value is determined only in service that can be supplied to others.
However, as human beings created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), we understand that we have value, self-esteem and dignity (Psalm 139:13-16). As Christians, we are joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). We belong to the family of God and are blood bought (Ephesians 2:13-19; Ephesians 3:13-15; Acts 20:28).
Thus, the value of man may be summed up in this one Scripture: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16; cf. Isaiah 53:4-5; Romans 5:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:1-6).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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