WORD OF THE WEEK - "VALUES" 9/8/24

Definition: the regard that something is held to deserve, the importance, worth or usefulness of something; a persons’ standards of behavior based on what they determine is important; or the estimate of the monetary worth of something.

Scriptures:Genesis 1:27 - “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.Luke 12:7: “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”

Welcome to the Word of the Week.  Weekly podcast to enhance your study of the Word of God.
I am your host Orine Newton.

Subscribe and support our show.  Email me at candonewton@gmail.com.  God Bless You!!

Transcript

Definition: the regard that something is held to deserve, the importance, worth or usefulness of something; a persons’ standards of behavior based on what they determine is important; or the estimate of the monetary worth of something.

Scriptures:Genesis 1:27 - “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.Luke 12:7: “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”
THOUGHT

If you would rather listen to the transcript rather than read it please click here and hit PLAY!

Recently, I have been binge-watching “The Resident,” where the staff, patients, investors, board members, and others constantly grapple with their “values.” For example, should expensive medical services be provided to save the life of a patient who has no insurance or money? How should the medical device industry be regulated to ensure safety? Is the standard of care for a woman of color the same as for a white woman? The show has made me reflect on who I value and why, whether I express to others how much I value their contributions to my life, and what value I bring to others.
Everyone should not only have value, but should also live in a community whose values allow everyone to have access to opportunities and the ability to fulfill their purpose.
Consider people like the following:• “Pegleg Willie”: The town drunk who would sober up enough to impart truth and warnings to children about their errors, even as they mocked his condition. His funeral was a testament to his positive influence.
• Mrs. Alice Jones: She quit high school in the 10th grade. Her love of children compelled her to start a kindergarten where she taught 3, 4, and 5-year-olds their ABCs, colors, and shapes while preparing them to excel in those “faraway places” outside her small town.
• “Red”: The least successful of the Thompson’s eleven children, who was a whiz at cards and a storyteller full of wisdom. His siblings, who became doctors, lawyers, and teachers, would turn to him for his no-nonsense advice on matters of importance.
These people, despite their circumstances, were valued because they contributed more than money, good looks, educational accomplishments, and social affiliations to their community.
By today’s values, each of these people might have been ignored, outcast, or deemed unworthy: the town drunk, because he was unemployable due to his out-of-control alcoholism; the kindergarten entrepreneur, because she did not have credentials qualified by a college degree; and the card whiz storyteller, because his overwhelming size and missing teeth would have made him undesirable in most social circles.
Fortunately, they were not perceived as valueless by their community, whose love and acceptance allowed them to live their lives meaningfully. How many people, how much talent, how much possibility is being and has been lost because the world prefers to value and reward the superficial attributes of fame, money, beauty, and accomplishments over the spiritual attributes of kindness, empathy, honor, and love?
The right values support mankind’s basic spiritual needs. Most people would prefer a kind word over an angry one, a compliment over being put down, acceptance of our differences over the denial of our right to exist because of those differences, and love over hate.
Please take the time to review, assess, and re-evaluate who, what, and how you determine what has value in your life and why. If your answers are not in alignment with the Word of God, please re-e-”value”-ate your choices and make a change.