A Relationship with Jesus Changes Our Values 

I have begun a long overdue task of cleaning up our basement. This part of our house became the storage area for piles of possessions that have now accumulated over several decades. So as not to be overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, I am just taking it a little at a time. As I sort through the items, I separate them basically into three groups: what we plan to keep, what we can donate to a thrift store, and what needs to be thrown away. Some of the stuff I am classifying as garbage once had value to us. We had hung onto it either thinking we might use it again or that it might bring in a few dollars at a garage sale. However, some of it is now worthless. For example, I found some floppy disks for the computer. Not only is the information or the games on those disks outdated, but I don’t even have the equipment to be able to gain access to them anymore. They are useless to me. Garbage.

The Apostle Paul declared some things he once valued highly as being like garbage to him. He was referring to his status and actions before he came to put his faith in Jesus. He had put a lot of stock in his Jewish ancestry, his strict adherence to the law, and even how he had passionately opposed the followers of Jesus whom he considered to be enemies of God. However, after coming to know Christ, his values drastically changed. “What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him” (Philippians 3:7-9). Compared to knowing Jesus, all those other things had become like worthless garbage to him.

If we are following Jesus, some of our values will be different from the world we live in. Our own values will change as we seek the kingdom of God first in our lives. Interests, desires, and activities that once were important and meaningful to us may begin to take a backseat to things that are more aligned with our growing relationship with the Lord and with His will for us. Some of them we may even come to value no more than we do garbage. We have no problem ridding ourselves of them completely.

I noticed a social media post from a friend in which he made it known that he had not watched this year’s Super Bowl. Although he has always been a sports fan, he intentionally chose not to participate this time, opting instead to spend time with his wife and children in other activities. And he declared that he didn’t miss it like he thought he would. I can relate to him, as in recent years I have intentionally pulled back from being an avid sports fan. Nevertheless, I decided to tune in to the first part of the Super Bowl, but after just a few minutes I was reminded why it no longer interests me as much. In what I witnessed on the field, in the stands, from the announcers, and on those famous commercials, I was reminded that my values were different from much of what was being displayed.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying being a sports fan is bad. It is simply one area in which this truth could apply to some people’s lives. If we are faithfully following Jesus, we are going to find some of our values changing. What was once important to you may become less important, especially in comparison to knowing Jesus. What do you value less these days? What should you value less?