Have you ever thought about what you value in life? As born-again believers, we value God and His Word, for He gives us instruction in righteousness—how to live rightly—in His Word (II Timothy 3:16). That’s valuable!
As God’s children, we have been made spiritually righteous through the accomplished works of Jesus Christ. Although we don’t have to perform good works to become good enough to merit God’s grace and goodness, we seek to consistently do things God’s way and walk in balance with that righteousness we’ve been given. We follow earnestly after righteousness and flee youthful lusts. As we do, we keep a spiritual perspective in life, valuing God and His Word and experiencing the great benefits of right living.
God’s Word shows us what we should follow after and value in life. His Word also tells us what to flee.
II Timothy 2:22:
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith [believing], charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
I Timothy 6:9-11:
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith [the household of faith], and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith [believing], love, patience, meekness.
These verses exhort us to flee youthful, sinful desires and the love of money and to “follow after” or “follow” righteousness. The English words “follow after” and “follow” in these verses are translated from the same Greek word meaning “to pursue in order to find or overtake; metaphorically, to follow earnestly after.” Part of valuing God and His Word is to pursue righteousness, following after the things of God and not the things of the world. We choose to value God and His Word above the world and what it has to offer and to faithfully conduct our lives in a manner that is pleasing to God.
There are great benefits to keeping a spiritual perspective in life by choosing to value what God says above what the world offers. One great benefit to keeping God first and pursuing righteousness is that our needs will be met and we can be satisfied in life. Contentment is a part of our walk in righteousness. We can be thankful for how God abundantly meets our needs as we are blessed and content with what we do have, fleeing the love of money.
Matthew 6:31,33:
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
I Timothy 6:8:
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content [satisfied].
Because we value God and His Word, we heed His encouragement to “awake to righteousness.”
I Corinthians 15:34:
Awake to righteousness, and sin not….
“Awake” in this verse figuratively means “to return to soberness of mind.” We can be sober-minded, or temperate and sensible, as we choose to live rightly, with a mind-set of walking on the Word.
When we are born again, we are made spiritually righteous by God. Then as we choose to value Him and His Word by pursuing righteousness and fleeing youthful lusts, we see great benefits in our lives. We can live life satisfied with God’s provision for us, thankful for how He has met our needs. We can awake to righteousness, being sober-minded, temperate, and sensible. What great quality of life we can experience as we choose to live righteously.