“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” – Matthew 6:33 (KJV).
In life one could be driven by lust, greed, gain, ego, material things or by values. Examples abound in the scripture and in this contemporary life of people driven by different forces. To be value driven is to be purpose driven. It is to prioritize character. The things we promote in life are the things our lives focus on. These things form our conviction in life.
When one gives his life to the Lord, there are Christians virtues and godly values to imbibe and develop.
The more of these Christian values we embrace and develop, the more our lives conform to Christ. The yardstick for measuring spirituality.
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue, and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance and to temperance, patience and to patience, godliness and to godliness, brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness, charity” – 2Peter 1:5-7 (KJV).
If these values are imbibed, the person will not be barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of God, but he that lacks these values is blind and short sighted. The values we promote are the values that form our character and ultimately decide our destiny. The word of God says to seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness. What takes the most of your resources (time, energy, finance)? What forms your predominant thoughts? That of course is what you value most.
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with portion of the kings meet, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” – Daniel 1:8(KJV). His was a value driven life, not pleasure or position driven life. He valued his covenant with God above the king’s meat.
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he has respect unto the recompense of the reward” – Hebrew 11:24-26 (KJV). Moses was not deceived by the flair in Pharaoh’s house because he had formed his core values, God, his people and God’s purpose were his priority. He has learnt to put God first.
For Joseph, not even the constant advances of wealthy, dazzling and pretty wife of Portipher could make him abandon his values. Here his response – “there is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee; because thou art his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness? And sin against God” Genesis 39:9 (KJV). Joseph left his garment in her hand and fled. This is godly virtue.
Prayer: God help me to promote godly values in my life.
Rev. Vincent Diolu