June 27, 2024
Everyone has values, the things they feel are important. What most don’t realize is that their values determine the direction of their lives. They will always pursue what they think is most significant.
Over the years, I have watched men with wonderful families, good reputations, and excellent careers throw these all way because they became deceived. They thought something else—an adulterous relationship, for instance—was more valuable. Their reasoning goes out the window when their values are skewed.
SURPASSING VALUE
Paul helps us with this. For many years, he was a man with twisted values until he met Christ on a Damascus road. His eyes were opened, and he realized the truth. The matured apostle writes these words at the end of his life.
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8)
When Paul speaks of “knowing Christ,” he is not describing head knowledge but knowledge gained from experience. It is experiencing Christ in a real, personal way and all that brings. Nothing was more valuable to Him.
DIRECTION DETERMINER
If you want to understand why you have trouble pursuing God, it is because you are convinced other things are more important. We treasure power, possessions, popularity, the applause of men, comfort, and pleasure, and the list goes on. We dart from one thing to the next, thinking it will give us the satisfaction we crave. But “our souls are restless, O Lord, until they find their rest in Thee,” as Augustine said.
The spiritually mature are those who have settled the issue. Having run the side roads to no avail, they are now shut up to Christ. “One thing I do,” Paul said, “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Anything else is of secondary worth.
YOUR VALUES
Look at your calendar and your checkbook. How you spend your time and your resources is a great indicator of what you think is most important. Evaluate everything else in light of the value of experiencing Christ's presence—walking and talking with Him every day—and rest in the most important thing.
O Father, purify me. Let me release every vain idea and fruitless search for anything less than You. Thrill me with Yourself. Make my eyes see and my heart rejoice in knowing and walking with You. And may my life show the rightness and beauty of a man who has done with lesser things.
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