OUR VALUES PART 3

TEXT: Luke 5:17-20

¹⁷ Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. ¹⁸ Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. ¹⁹ And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. ²⁰ When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

Our last conversation focused on our relationship with God as we stressed that “who you follow determines who you are made of” and how the journey of following Christ amplifies our purpose while stretching us in our area of calling. We will now focus on values based on our relationships with others.

Every day, we navigate a landscape of choices and decisions that shape our lives. Some of these choices can upset, disappoint, or enrich the relationships we hold dearly; ultimately, it all hinges on our shared values. Moreover, there are moments when our connections transcend mere words, urging us to discover our own miracles. This echoes the testimony of the paralytic, whose friends went to extraordinary lengths to help his miracle come alive. Everyone needs a friend or two who is willing to fight for them when they cannot stand alone. This invites us to reflect deeply as we seek to answer the following questions.

• Do you share the same values with the people you associate with?

Many of us try to love others more than God, who is the very essence of love, leading us to become overwhelmed while trying to rescue someone whose values diverge from our own. In the flight of your destiny, it is vital to recognise that you can suffocate if you do not first LEARN how to secure your own oxygen mask before attempting to assist another person. Note the emphasis on the word “learn.” Though it may seem selfish, you cannot truly save anyone until you have successfully saved yourself. A blind man cannot guide another, so it is essential to understand what is attainable for you and be discerning about whom you allow into your life. As the saying goes,

“Two cannot walk together except they be agreed”

(Amos 3:3). The distinction between the five wise and five foolish virgins ultimately rests on shared values; while they were all virgins, five had commonalities that the other five lacked. Proverbs 13:20 (NKJV) says,

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.”

• Can God trust you and can your friends trust you?

This is a deeply heartfelt question that invites us to reflect on whether God can truly entrust Himself to mere mortals like us. But He is indeed interested in trusting us. He desires to take pride in boasting about you and me. In Job 1:8, we see that God indeed spoke highly of Job to the devil, and in Genesis 18:17-18, He once again commended Abraham. Same way, our friends who are in distress should know that they have a friend in you to rely on. In a world where loyalty is priceless and scarce, be determined to spread loyalty so much that even your generation yet unborn will become a recipient of that; just like Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:1), BE A SAFE HAVEN FOR YOUR FRIENDS.

• Are you a blessing or a curse? Does your life attract or repel others from God, and do you attract blessings into the lives of those around you? In Genesis 12 and 13, we can see that Lot was blessed because of Abraham.
• Are you conscious of the people you let into your circle?

Certain relationships we cling to can be likened to baggage, often hindering God’s move in our lives. Some individuals struggle to survive independently because they cannot discern the difference between solitude and loneliness. Being alone is physically being by yourself but loneliness is an emotional disposition and it’s entirely possible to be surrounded by friends yet still feel isolated.

***MAKE A DECISION NOT TO SHRINK INTO THE SPACE OF ANYONE BUT BE ACCOMODATING ENOUGH TO KNOW WHO MUST BE IN YOUR LIFE.

This is not a call to sever ties and burn bridges; we must also extend grace to those who are eager to grow and become better versions of themselves.

YOUR VALUES MUST ISOLATE YOU ENOUGH FOR THE RIGHT PEOPLE GOD HAS PREDESTINATED TO SHOW UP IN YOUR LIFE.

• Are you leaning towards the values that draw you closer to God or men?

Many individuals may hastily respond to this question, asserting that the former is their reality. However, these signs often remain subtle, not screaming and do not overtly call for caution. When we position ourselves to rely on God, we enter a space of surrender to His will. It is in this sacred place that we begin to embrace not only our authentic selves but also the highest version of who we can be. There must come a time in our lives when we choose to live not by the expectations of others but in alignment with God’s purpose.

Lastly, we have a question to answer introspectively.

ARE THE RELATIONSHIPS IN YOUR LIFE LEADING YOU TOWARDS YOUR CALLING OR ARE THEY AIMLESS?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, for every of your children reading this and thinking of their value systems, help them to the consciousness of their values and bring them to the place of no compromise in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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