Core Values And The -Box- Which Holds Your Personal Values And Beliefs

How do you measure who you are? How do you measure your personal value?

• What is the ratio of an igloo's circumference to its diameter? Answer: Eskimo Pi.
• What is half of a large intestine? Answer: semicolon.
• What is the weight of 2000 pounds of Chinese soup? Answer: Won ton.
• What is the time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement? Answer: 1 bananosecond.
• What is the weight an evangelist carries with God? Answer: 1 billigram.

So much for my attempt at written slapstick humor! However, my bigger point is that everything has some kind of value to somebody – positive or negative.

This is illustrated by our personal values that determine who we are; what we do; where we are going. What is at the heart of your personal value system?

Each of us holds differing likes and dislikes. In food I love green beans, my children hate them; I hate greens, my brother craves them; we all believe in the power of cheese! There are certain ideals which become so vital to us that we absolutely make sure they are fulfilled. Most times they are such a part of us that we do not even think about them; we just do them. I will call these “Core Values.”

What are core values? I am defining core values as ideals or principles by which we live our lives.

(To learn more web definitions of core values go to: Webcrawler: Web Search Results for "Core Value Definition" )

How can you tell your core values? Your behavior reveals most of your personal value system! I’ll wager you that eating is a core value for you. Go without food for a while and you will see one of your core values. (For some reason I talk a lot about food.)

Most Core Values are assumed. That is, we hardly even think about them. Many times we never notice till they come in conflict with someone else. For a small example, I squeeze the toothpaste tube at its most efficient point, the middle. Then after its inevitable collapse I work from the bottom back to the middle so I can squeeze it again. Did you know that some folks prefer to start at the base of the tube? I discovered this after I got married, and my wife and I had a few discussions.

Our personal values continue through our life and develop stronger and stronger bonds to our behavior. We live our values; they become boundaries and speed bumps; they become both a home for our fears and the platform for our hopes! Our personal core values become a “box” for our behaviors and thoughts. This box is our corral and we dare not live outside of it! If a certain television show (like “Criminal Minds!”) is high on my list of valued activities, I will find a way to watch it (no matter what!) unless I find a higher value (like church goes long on Wednesday nights!).

Let me talk Money. I love money. Now, money is not evil; it is “the love of money that is the root of all evil.” So, you can see that I must be careful. It is also true that my values’ system keeps this evil in check because I have greater priorities. I hesitate to use myself as an example, but all of my adult life, I have given tithe (and additional offerings) to my church. Then, when I could, I gave at least a tithe to my future retirement and saving. I would live off the rest. I have taught my children (who are now adults) to do the same. I have never been wealthy and our family of four lived just at or above the poverty line most of those years, but we made it! We seldom took vacations but spent the time home with our family doing family things. I never had a boat or a yacht , but we didn’t live hand to mouth either. We were happy and kept paying our debts on time! Eventually, rather then spending we were able to make a few modest investments. In conclusion, God has blessed us richly. I am now in my late 50’s and completely out of debt. My wife and I own our 5 bedroom, brick, 3 bath home on our hill with 3 acres and a chain-link fence. We own two nice vehicles and will soon have helped our adult children through college. . God has blessed us, but my point is, it can be done! What are your core values?

Money is the tool that enables us to live out our values. Give a teen $50 and send her to the mall. Within an hour or two you will know what she values. Give yourself a salary check every week, and then see where the money goes – and you will see a number of your Core Values spelled out for you.

Having heaps of money will expose your values. Having too little will do the equivalent. Money is your yardstick for finding out what Life is worth. Did you know that according to Google answers that “nearly one-third of lottery winners become bankrupt”? Couldn’t part of that reason be somewhere in that “core value box” they live in, their core personal values?

This is the influence of the Box: it compels you to think within definite bounds. Which do you read the most: the grocery flyer or your Bible? Why? Do you define your inner worth by the clothes you wear? Does the wrong pair of jeans make you fell like nobody? Manufacturers and merchants make hefty profits looking in your box. Many times your inner happiness is void because you allow others to mold your priorities and core standards. Your inner happiness is up to you; it is in your hands; you can hold it or you can give it away!

Ugly things are in your box!

FEAR is in your box; the thing that keeps you in the Box is fear:

How fear destroys inner-happiness:

1. Fear that you won’t be accepted.
2. Fear that you won’t have enough.
3. Fear that you won’t have the “right” things
4. Fear that you won’t be happy if you don’t have what the “Jones” have.

Thinking outside the Box

Core values do/can change, but it may take time. The power of your mind can change your core standards.

A Scriptural principle comes to mind here:

Philippians 4:7-8 ( MKJV) And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. … Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things.

The Box represents your unexamined assumptions about what is important. The moment you think about what the Box demands of you, it begins to lose its power. Paul says think on good, positive things and it will remold your core principles and this is the way to inner-happiness. Wow!

Let me affirm you today. You are worth more to God than any of His creation. Jesus said you are worth more than the lilies or the sparrows. You are the most important thing in this world to God!

John 3:16 MKJV For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Making a new box: Establishing new personal core values.

Luke 12:31 MKJV But rather seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

The point is that greed both accomplishes and becomes a central value, but you can think and thus act outside of that box. You simply begin/continue thinking, seeking and working for the right things.

The three principles to renewing and establishing successful core values.

1. Divest

2. Invest

3. Only receive the best.

By divest, I mean for you to empty yourself of all negatives that hinder you from being your best. By invest, I mean to guide your mind to the place, by positive thinking, where the best for you is available. Finally, you have to make choices among the many voices that complete for your “box” and only receive those things that are the best that God has for you.

I cannot define what this best is; I can only tell you that God wants you to experience His best for you! I have tried to live my life by this core value. I encourage you to do the same.

This is where faith comes into the “box.”

1. It takes faith to think outside the Box so your core values can change and grow.

2. It takes faith to say, “No”, to fear.

3. It takes faith to give to God and to others when it seems like your needs and wants won’t be provided for.

4. It takes faith to really believe that God cares more about you than the things around you.

5. It takes faith to “rest” in the fact that you are going to make it and overcome!

6. It takes faith to discover a whole new set of Core Values!

7. But with you and Christ, this is what happens!