Your values determine your priorities, and if you get your priorities straight, they’ll keep you from wasting you one and only life. Many claim a certain set of values, but the way they live, and their priorities don’t support their declared values. Your true values determine your decisions, drive your schedule, will define you and determine what you do with the one and only life God has given you.

When considering whether to buy a service or product, consumers want to know, “What is the value-added if I purchase this service or product?” As a result, marketers must present their product as the way to achieve a desired outcome, i.e., better gas mileage, whiter teeth, weight loss, save money.

What if you adopted the value-added approach to life? What if you made sure the things you are doing support your values? What if you made sure that your priorities line up with your values, support your values, and lead you toward the things that are most important to you? Saying that family is important, but spending all your free time at the club doesn’t support what you say you value. When your priorities line up with your values, your decisions lead you to higher ground. Decisions are easier, clearer. Stress and anxiety go down, because there is no longer a conflict between what you say you value and what you are truly valuing by your actions.

Values come from either the world or the Word, culture or Christ. Our culture values pleasure, possessions and prestige. These things are fine, but not as life’s goal. Solomon was the wealthiest and wisest person to have ever lived, and he literally had anything and everything he desired. He said it was all meaningless, like chasing the wind (Ec 2:10). There is a greater purpose for life. Proverbs says that the pursuit of righteousness and love yields life, prosperity and honor! People with worldly values spend their entire life trying to find these three things, yet God says he’ll give them to you when you get your priorities right.

If you know what you value, what matters, what lasts, who ultimately holds the future, you have stability, even when the world is flying apart. You can keep believing, learning and trying because God has given you an internal compass for navigating your values. Get in line with God’s eternal values; it’s higher ground.

Verses: (Js 1:8 KJV) A double minded person is unstable in all their ways. (Pr 4:23 LB) Above all else, guard your affections, for they influence everything else in your life. (1 Jn 2:16 NLT) For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from the world. (Pr 21:21 NIV) Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. (Mt 6:33 NRSVUE) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Scriptures: James 1:8; Proverbs 4:23; Mark 8:36-37; Luke 8:14, 12:15; Ecclesiastes 2:10; 1 John 2:16; Job 34:4; Proverbs 3:6; Psalm 119:37; Romans 12:2; Philippians 3:8; Proverbs 21:21; Matthew 6:33

Questions: What do you say you value? What does your life say you value? What would your friends say you value most? What does your bank account say you value? Are your decisions consistent with your priorities? Is God leading you to make some changes in your priorities in order to be true to God’s values?

Prayer: Father in Heaven, keep my eyes and my heart fixed on you, so that I don’t spend my time and energy on worthless things. I know that only in You is life worth living. Help me to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.