Why Values are Tricky
Isn’t it interesting, how the things that we value and feel are "musts" in December (buy the Christmas tree, decorate the home, shop and wrap gifts until you drop) lose their importance come January? How a thoroughly content, wonderful, single person would suddenly feel less valuable from all the hype and pressure he or she sees in romantic ads in the weeks leading to Valentine’s Day? Why are long-stemmed roses so expensive on February 14 and back to normal prices on Feb 15?
There’s a third aspect about values that we need to understand:
Certain values are seasonal and temporary, while others are enduring, and will always be valuable.
Valuable Today, Gone Tomorrow
Back in the 80’s, it was considered cool to have a pager or a beeper attached to your waist. We bought cassette tapes and listened to music on speakers that seemed as big as a room! Kodak was THE camera brand, colored film was bought in little tubes, and you crossed your fingers hoping that your wedding pictures would come out alright when you finally see them a month after your wedding!
Remembering these things makes me wonder what the young people of today would do in a world like the 80’s; because what used to be so valuable and desirable then seems laughable now. Just take a look at your old photos and the outfits you wore then. (Was that really me wearing a scarf around my neck with striped bellbottom pants??)
The reason why it's so important to know the right hierarchy of values is so that we can avoid spending all our life and energy chasing after the things of temporary value (money/food/clothes) and thinking these will fulfill you, while sadly neglecting the enduring values (God/ life/body).
This mistake can happen to anyone. Even Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived, was lured to compromise his relationship with God (enduring value) for his insatiable pursuit of wealth, women and satisfaction (temporary values). It was only in his old age when he realized the gravity of his mistake in declaring that, "Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
And at the very end of his life, his final words in Ecclesiastes as an older and now wiser man were:
“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14)
Value God
Before we can even begin to understand the importance of each of the six values, we must first establish that valuing God comes before anyone or anything. This helps us avoid being tricked into following the wrong set of values.
I have seen this happen several times in my life. My wrong priorities, stress, and fears were often because I had mixed up my values by worrying over the temporary ones and neglecting those that were more important.
We must always put God first. This means that we are to place Him above our needs and wants. It's not about the words we say but the way we live that reveals God’s position in our lives. Consequently, establishing our value on God first sets the tone and standard for all the other values in every season of our lives.
So, is this an excuse to neglect all the other things? Most certainly not! For God has been so faithful to remind us that,
"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing? For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6: 31-32)
And what is the correct way to test out the values present in your life? The answer can be found in the succeeding verse:
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6: 33)
Put God first, align your heart with His Will, and then your other values will naturally fall into place.
See you next week.
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