Most of us, make decisions according to a few "core values." However, many of us have never taken the time to articulate just what those values are. If we want to leave a godly legacy, we must first determine what we believe in; what is most important to us. And then, we need to evaluate how well we're living according to those values, because our children, and those we influence will learn from our actions and lifestyle more than our words.
For example, if one of your core values is, "my family comes before my job," and your family sees you consistently working so many hours that you rarely have time to spend with them, they will conclude that your real core value is, "my work is more important than my family."
This lesson is designed to help us bring to surface what our real core values are.
Here are 4 questions we need to ask ourselves to discover those values:
1) What do you believe in?
2) What really matters the most to you?
3) What governs how you live your life?
4) What do you want to pass on to your children; those you love?
In scripture we see that Jesus had values; values that guided His decisions and His actions. It is safe to say that 2 of Jesus' core values were love (Jesus looked at everything through the lens of love) and obedience (submission) to God. And, in the book of Matthew (Chapter 23, verse 23), Jesus also articulates these 3 values: justice, mercy and faithfulness.
Here's a list of "core values" by category for our consideration:
Spiritual values
1) trust Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord
2) love God with our heart, and mind, and serve Him
3) child-like faith (teachable; trusting; unpretentious)
4) view life from God's agenda
5) trust the scriptures / trust God's Word
6) a broken and contrite heart (repentant)
7) tenderhearted (compassionate)
8) humble (free from pride and arrogance)
9) hunger for righteousness
10) worship God
11) dependence upon God
12) forgiving
13) full of hope
14) submission
Civic and cultural values
1) law-abiding
2) social-minded
3) patriotic
4) convictions about specific issues
5) sense of Christian ethics
Relational values
1) respect for others
2) friendly
3) gracious
4) compassionate
5) merciful
6) caring
7) thoughtful
8) kind
9) helpful
10) giving
11) generous
Moral values
1) what you base your moral choices on
2) stands on moral issues
Lifestyle values
1) how you spend your time each day
2) level of emphasis on material things
3) work ethic
4) level of emphasis on relationships
5) mission mindset
Family values
1) commitment to your mate
2) level of importance of commitment to each other as a family
3) level of importance of grandparents and relatives
Personal/development values
1) personal health convictions
2) intellectual growth
3) developing skills and hobbies
4) cleanliness
5) discipline
Character values
1) honest
2) loving
3) truthful
4) faithful
5) trustworthy
6) obedient
7) teachable
8) tolerant
9) temperate
10) patient
11) loyal
13) morally pure
14) financially ethical
Values are important because they guide our behavior. Our values are the guiding principles for how we organize and run our life. Whenever we need to make a decision (big or small), we can go back to our values, and check how our proposed course of action lines up (or does not). We choose our values, and it is perhaps the most important decision we make. It's a good idea to consider how our values line up with the values of Jesus Christ.
