"VALUES THAT COUNT!"

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14

Along the shore line or beach most of us have seen castles of sand carefully erected by children, only later to be washed away and destroyed. Beholding these disintegrated edifices reminds us of the castles of sand that men and women erect in real life. They spend not just a few hours, but precious years, thinking they are really accomplishing something. But then comes the night, and the tides roll in, and soon their cherished castles disappear. There is only one way to build a life that counts and a "work" that endures. It is to found it on the rock, Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and to do so with eternity's values in clear view!

"Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." Matthew 7:24,25

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2

Think of the many different things on which we set our hearts. In childhood it may have been a certain kind of candy or toy we saw. We probably wanted it more than anything else ~ or thought we did at that particular moment of time. That desire for something special goes with us through life, however, the objects of our desires seem to get bigger! The things we long for keep changing in importance as we move through life. What seemed important in our youth has little or no value when we grow up. What we valued most as teenagers becomes irrelevant when we move to adulthood. And in the light of eternity, they all become trivial. This is why Jesus tells us to lay up treasures in heaven ~ not on earth, where rust and decay make them useless. We really need to look at our "values" in view of Jesus.

"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24

There is a growing trend today to regard life with little or no value. Life is a gift from the hand of God. Its worth is surpassed only by our new life in Christ Jesus and our everlasting life at God's side in heaven. Christians should cherish life most highly and protect it! Paul suggests that even so valuable a gift as life is nothing unless it is enriched by what we do with it. There is no end of possibilities! People who have no appreciation for the value of life, are themselves, a magnificent field of opportunities in our lives. To confer new value on them, by taking them "hand in hand" to Calvary, and showing them the love of Jesus, we help them to appreciate life's values and hopefully bring them to the cross! Life assumes its greatest value if we complete the task that Christ Jesus gives us.

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Philippeans 2:3-5

Application: Let us set our values on God's standard of greatness. In measuring up to
His divine standards, we must become better servants. May we exceed what we are presently doing for Him, keeping in mind how Christ came Himself, not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. What greater set of values could one possibly have?

Today's Devotion: "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek after; that I
may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple." Psalm 27:4

God Bless You All, as you set your sights on values of eternal things which count!