129. EXAMINE YOUR VALUES. Proverbs 11:3.

Are your values based on Scripture, or are they based on your emotions? Are they based on God’s Integrity or on your feelings? Are they based on God’s Truth or on people’s or public opinion? We need to think about this very seriously and perhaps re-evaluate some of our ideas. Here are some values to live by that are based on God’s Word. (1) The Sovereignty of God:- When and what God has said regarding anything has His seal on it, there are no loopholes, excuses or exceptions .(Psalm139:16) “You saw me before I was born. Everyday of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” We can rest in the knowledge that God has the last word on everything that concerns us. In fact according to the previous Psalm (v 8) We have an ordered destiny. When we know this, we know we don’t have to try and manipulate people or circumstances to our advantage, we simply have to walk through the doors God opens, and be at peace with doors He closes, knowing He has our best interest at heart. (2) Truth and Reliability:- Live and walk in truth (Proverbs 11:3) says “The Integrity of the upright guides them.” As you walk in truth you will experience God’s peace because you will know, you have done the right thing in His sight. Truth is not only being honest and not telling lies, but ensuring that what you do say is the truth. In other words, you make your word your bond. Truth stands alone, if it needs enhancing, excusing or minimising it ceases being the truth. Truth is straight forward and concise. (Psalm15:4) says that one of the traits of a person who abides in God’s presence and does His will, that person Keeps his promises even when it hurts. (3) Humility:- (proverbs15:33) “Humility precedes Honour” Humility is not a sense of worthlessness: It’s an acceptance of our God-given strengths and God-allowed limitations. Our strengths should not make us arrogant and our weaknesses should not make us apprehensive, for God has promised in (2 Corinthians 12:9) “My Grace is all you need, My Power works best in weakness.” (4) Equality:- (Romans 2:11) says “God doesn’t have any favourites.” In God’s eyes, no person is more important than another. Not one! Some have received more access to the things the world, offers, or achieved more education, or been called to higher ranks of responsibility. But in God’s eyes, no one is innately better. Note this, “At the foot of the Cross, the ground is level”, that is where we all must approach God. As sinners in need of Salvation. So no matter what position, achievements, accolades and trophies of honour we may have received in life, God expects you and me to treat everyone with the same love, honour and respect. (5) Generosity:- Our primary motive for generosity should always be to glorify God, and acknowledge Him for His generosity towards us, and if we do that, He has promised us a reward. Jesus said (Luke 6:38) “Your gift will return to you in full – pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over… The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. You see, “Others don’t determine what you receive back, Even God doesn’t determine it; In fact,You do! The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. You are never more like God than when you give, and give generously. Because that’s what He does, and you can never surpass Him at giving. The truth is, if you are generous to others,You have no reason to be anxious about not having enough. (6) Integrity:-What would you say was the single most important characteristic of a person who wanted to be successful and make a difference in this world, some would say intelligence, After all knowledge is power in numerous ways. Others would say intensity, that spirit of conquest and passion that becomes contagious. Others say it’s insight, the ability to clarify and perceive certain issues. The Bible says, In (Proverbs 10:9) “He who walks with Integrity, walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known” the most important quality in success is Integrity. Eventually we all get known by our integrity or lack of it, because either way, it becomes part of our character, (who we are), and we all establish our depth of relationships with people according to their character (principles, values and ethics). If they are similar to ours the relationship flourishes. If not it fades. We have all known people along life’s road, who possess extraordinary intelligence, but no Integrity, and they are no longer in the race. Others with great intensity and passion but little integrity (Blown about by the wind) gone the same way. The same result is true of people-pleasers who will sacrifice their God-given insights and principles just to stay in the gang. The thesaurus equates integrity with such words as Honesty, completeness, and incorruptibility. Integrity begins in your private world. That part of you that’s known only to God and yourself; Then it shows up in your personal world, the part of you that you reveal to a small circle of intimate family members and possibly a few friends. After that comes your professional world, here people know you by your product, Your work ethic or your skill set. And they all ask the same question. “Can I trust you” Finally Your Integrity shows up in your public world. So here’s the question. Do you have integrity? Here are six ingredients which are always found in lasting success. (1) Information:- If you don’t stay informed, you’ll be left behind. (2) Intuition; This is sometimes referred to as “know in your knower”. (3) Initiative; This is when you are willing to step out in Faith and act on what you know Intuitively. (4) Intentionally;- This is when you are willing to set specific goals and timelines for reaching them. (5) Intensity;- This calls for more than starting power, it requires staying power.. (6) Integrity;-This is the glue that holds the previous five things in place, and it’s rooted in that private life you develop alone with God. We hear Architects, Engineers and builders say “This building structural integrity” What do they mean? That the public beauty of a tall building relies on it’s private, unseen foundation that is dug deep into the earth and solidly constructed. It’s that hidden life of that building that brings structural integrity to the building. Likewise the hidden life of a fruit tree – the unseen root system that digs deep into the earth that produces those beautiful juicy fruit. And so it is with you and me. Integrity must be rooted in your private life. Don’t wait until you are in he public arena before paying attention to your integrity. For then it will be too late. Your talent may bring you success, but it takes character to protect and maintain that success . The truth is than when your integrity is rooted in your private world, it is reflected in your personal world, your professional world and your public world. Integrity is the foundation on which our faith in God stands. God Himself stands on the Integrity of His name. Because God is Truth and His Word is Truth, He has given us His Word to build our value system upon. And if we follow and obey it we will inherit the Kingdom of God on that great and wonderful day. Thank you for reading this rather lengthy piece, but I do think It’s Important for Christians to understand God’s thinking on the gifts He has given us, of which Integrity is one. I believe God will be with us more tangibly as we recognise and take up the gifts He so gracefully and generously offers us. God Bless Phaline ---------------------------