One of my favorite subjects is “core values.” They are the things, opinions, and beliefs that are at the center or core of us. They are most important to us and effect everything we do and what kind of person we are. They are the things, opinions, and beliefs for which we live and die.
Our core values will influence our vocation, church, political party, close relationships, and free time. Our passion and emotions may reveal our core values. We are stirred when our core values are challenged. Sadly, some of us may have never identified what ours are.
Our philosophy of life and world view have been the foundation for our core value choices. Secularism believes the universe is all there is and excludes God and eternity. Humanism views man as the measure of all things and leads him to worship himself. Relativism believes since there is no God there are no absolutes. Truth is relative and wrong is the normal. Materialism adds that if nothing exists but the here and now, then the meaning of life can be found only in personal possessions. Imagine what core values are held by those who adhere to these philosophies.
Once we have believed in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, have committed to live our lives for Him, and are yielding to The Holy Spirit to transform our lives that we may become more and more like our Father who is in heaven, our core values must be aligned with His. Our focus on Philippians 4:8 can be an exercise in clarifying our core values and becoming more passionate about them. “Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”