The Value of Values

    There's a world of difference between your talents and your values.  Now, both are important, but there is a difference.

    What's the difference?  Talents are a gift whereas values are a choice.  What value do values play in our life.  Think about these 7 facts.

01.  Values give you confidence.  The Bible says, "So we can say with confidence, "The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear.  What can mere people do to me?"  (Hebrews 13.6).  The verses just before verse  6 speak of obeying the Lord.  Now, obeying the Lord is having values.  Then confidence comes--confidence to pray, to live, to witness, etc.

02.  Values guard your mind.  The Bible teaches. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"  (Philippians 4.7).  Where was Paul when he wrote these words?  Prison.  To paraphrase the early verse of Philippians 4, Paul said, "I have clear values, therefore I have a guarded mind.  That is so vital in 2010.

03.  Values give you good friends.  How important are good friends?  Ask King Saul after his fall.  Ask Samson as he is blinded and grinding flour like an animal.  You see, birds of a feather flock together.  When you have good values, God will give you good friends.     

04.  Values guide your decisions.  The Bible asserts, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3.5-6).  How does this work?  It's really quite simple:  God honors you when you honor Him.  You see, the Spirit gives spiritual guidance to spiritual people with spiritual values.

05.  Values glorify your God.  The Bible says, "according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death"  (Philippians 1.20).  Paul's value system was live or die, the Lord Jesus is #1.  That being true about him (or you), then "Christ will be magnified in my body."  What does a magnifying glass do?  It makes something bigger.  Clear values in your life make the Lord Jesus more real and bigger to people, thus bringing God glory. 

06.  Values generate positive feelings.  Psalm 23 proves this to us.  Stop and recite the Psalm right now.  "The Lord is my shepherd..."  That's a value statement.  The results are green pastures, still waters confidence in death's valley, security before enemies, etc.  In simple words--positive feelings.

07.  Values guarantee God's favor.  The Bible tells you, "He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless" (Proverbs 2.7).  Teach that to your children.  It will change their life--I guarantee it!

                                                                                                  We'll talk again, soon,

                                                                                                   Tom Lindberg