What is the benefit of living by the values God considers important?

Joshua 1:6-9“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

God’s values are recorded in his Word. Knowing them, continually meditating on them, discussing them with others, and putting them into practice will lead to a life of success in God’s eyes.

Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

God’s will is the expression of his values. Trusting him and seeking to do what he values provides us with reliable guidance for living.

Matthew 6:19-21“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

Matthew 6:31-33“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Living in this world will always involve responding to the demands of the world’s values, what the world treasures. But a constant awareness of God’s active presence and continuous efforts to live by his values will ensure that our lives will be properly ordered.

2 Kings 12:15No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men.

1 Samuel 12:4“No,” they replied, “you have never cheated or oppressed us, and you have never taken even a single bribe.”

Living by the values of Scripture will earn us a good reputation, make us trustworthy, and help us model a life that pleases God.