The Foundation for our Values: Jesus' Commands - Part 3

In defining the Golden Rule someone sarcastically responded, "Do unto others before they do it to you." However, Jesus taught in Matthew 7:12, "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." Galatians 5:13 follows with, "You’ve been given freedom to love and serve others. Remember, the whole Law can be summed up with ‘love others as you love yourself.’"

It's not uncommon even for Christians to disregard Jesus’ commands. The issue for so many could be that they find it impossible to love themselves because of self-contempt, guilt, or misunderstanding of how to appropriately love one' self.

Personal values define how you live or if the Golden Rule is applied to your daily life. In his book, The Methods of Ethics, Henry Sidgwick tells us, "Reason shows me that if my happiness is desirable and good, the equal happiness of any other person must also be equally desirable." God has given us wonderful guidelines for managing ourselves and our relationships.  

The Foundation for our Values: Jesus' Commands - Part 2

As the American political process transitions from a presidential campaign to developing a system of government based on different values, our country continues to change and endure. The basic primary focus will hopefully be directed toward the spiritual and physical health of each individual, which consequentially creates the potential for a strong family.

During my adolescent years, my dad worked two jobs, so I rarely talked to him. Sometimes I questioned what was driving him to work so hard. Although my dad wasn’t a great conversationalist, his values were what positively defined him as a person. Everyone knew he was honest and truthful, and thus trustworthy.

Values enlightened by the Holy Spirit become the guiding force for a productive, healthy life. God enables us to live within the boundaries of his love, which become the foundation for the values we live by.  Jesus said "If you love me, keep my commandments, for my commands are not grievous if you love me."  Can you see how Jesus’ commands are foundational to your values?  

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You are invited to listen as I will be the guest on "Vital Issues in the Christian Home" tomorrow morning (Thursday, February 23) from 10:30-11:30 Central Standard Time on KHCB radio at 105.7 FM in the Houston area. To stream it live or for a listing of sister stations in TX, OK, LA, and FL, you may click on the KHCB link in the "About Me" section of this page.

The Foundation for our Values: Jesus' Commands - Part 1

Avoiding strife and conflict seems impossible when we live in a world of turmoil. Although I grew up in small farming communities, some people kept struggles and strife alive by dishing out their unhappiness upon others. Strife is usually embedded in discontent, indicating the absence of inner peace.

Inner peace and serenity are embedded in values that determine thoughts and behavior. Strife occurs when values are separated from Jesus’ command for us to love others as we love ourselves. When you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, you have the ability to love yourself and others as sons and daughters of God.

Loving yourself as God intended makes it possible to love others as God's creations. Because Jesus died to save each person, we all are equal in that respect. Strife is defeated by inner peace which God provides, as Isaiah 26:3 indicates. "You (God) will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed (fixed) on you because he trusts in you." 

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You are invited to listen as I will be the guest on "Vital Issues in the Christian Home" this week on Thursday morning, February 23 from 10:30-11:30 Central Standard Time on KHCB radio at 105.7 FM in the Houston area. To stream it live or for a listing of sister stations in TX, OK, LA, and FL, you may click on the KHCB link in the "About Me" section of this page.