What Jesus Values (Rev. Kim DuBreuil)
Do you believe we are facing challenges today?
Let me take you back in time to see if any of this resonates. The year is AD 60-62. The apostle Paul is sitting in his prison cell, likely in Rome, reflecting on a recent visit from a coworker. Epaphras is a man from the church in Colossae, a city in modern-day Turkey, who came to inform Paul about the challenges the church was encountering.
The church in Colossae was influenced by false teachers that threatened to undermine the faith of those attempting to follow Jesus Christ. Yet, these issues weren’t just happening in Colossae. Jesus had warned about false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves (Matt. 7:15-20).
Peter described false teachers motivated by greed and offering false freedom. John urged to test false teachers by identifying those who believe that Jesus is from God. Jude, the brother of James (and perhaps Jesus) was a leader of the church in Jerusalem. He warned about being hoodwinked by “intruders” who twist things and deny Jesus.
Paul warned Timothy about teachers who tell the people what they want to hear. Paul also exposed the people who disguised themselves as servants of righteousness in the churches in Galatia, Corinth, and Rome.
Overall, these leaders encouraged the early Christians to evaluate doctrine; the character and actions of the teachers; test their sources and ask, do they align with the Bible? And to study God’s Word and pray for discernment and understanding.
If any of this is starting to sound familiar, know that things have been this way for eons (well over thousands of years).
Now, during Paul’s time, the main issues were over legalism, asceticism, and mysticism, which promoted unbiblical and distorted views of the Christian faith, particularly regarding salvation and spiritual growth. I want us to dive deeper and look at these three challenges a little closer.
Legalism emphasized the necessity of following practices like circumcision, dietary restrictions, and observing holy days to retain God’s favor.
Today, legalism may manifest as individuals enforcing rules and regulations that surpass the teachings of Scripture. Legalism can distort the message of God’s grace and redemption, leading people to hide their struggles and project a façade of holiness instead of being honest. Legalism may prompt individuals to compare their own holiness to that of others. Ultimately, legalism has the potential to alienate those who seek hope and forgiveness.
Asceticism involved the strict treatment of the body and the denial of one’s physical needs for religious reasons. Today, asceticism can manifest as extreme fasting or self-sacrifice. We cannot transform our hearts and renew our minds while focusing on practices and living in situations that jeopardize our health.
Mysticism sparked various ways to worship. Today, when properly understood, mysticism should be rooted in Scripture and centered on Christ. However, mysticism could be misinterpreted as focusing on personal preferences instead of Jesus’ example and teachings. It’s like those WWJD bracelets that reminded us to ask, in any given situation, “what would Jesus do?”
So, in response to these issues, Paul writes a letter to defend sound truths, address confusion, and offer clarification. Paul believed that in Christ alone, believers possess everything they need for salvation. For Paul, salvation is not achieved by following specific laws, practices, or forms of worship but by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul encouraged believers to remain connected to Christ, who should always occupy the foremost position in a Christian’s life and worship. He challenged believers to live in accordance with their new identity in Christ, rather than pursuing practices that ineffectively divided people. Paul criticized the harsh treatment of one’s body as a form of self-discipline; however, he clarified that embodying the values of Jesus Christ is a more effective approach.
Listen to what Paul wrote about Jesus’ values in his Letter to the Colossians, chapter 3:12-14, (CEB)
Colossians 3:12-14, CEB
12 Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other.
14 And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
What did Jesus value most?
Jesus valued: (say them with me they’re in bold).
- Verse 12: Show Compassion, kindness, humility, and patience,
- Verse 13: Being tolerant and to forgive one another,
- Verse 14: And over all these things love.
These values are central to Jesus’ life and teachings, and Paul’s desire to unite Christians.
What is the essence of being a Christian?
Well it is striving to embody the character and actions of Jesus Christ while focusing on what He valued most. It requires aligning our lives with God’s will and reflecting Christ’s values in every aspect of our lives with love as the foundation of everything.
Jesus taught that love is the foundation of all of God’s commands. He recognized and taught that loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind, as well as loving others and ourselves is the greatest commandment.
Jesus exemplified the ultimate sacrifice by laying down His life for all humanity, demonstrating unconditional love. Following God’s commandments means abiding in love. Staying in God’s love leads to joy and fulfillment. Is your life full of joy and fulfillment?
Jesus consistently demonstrated compassion, kindness, empathy, and care for those in need, particularly the marginalized and suffering. Believers were encouraged to “put on,” like clothing, values that would reflect a conscious choice to act in a certain way.
There are numerous examples of Jesus’ compassion and kindness. Jesus healed the sick, the blind, lepers, including a woman caught in adultery. Even His followers fed the hungry and provided comfort to the grieving. We are to show a deep concern for the well-being of others. Does your life reflect genuine compassion and kindness?
Jesus taught that true greatness is found in humble service. Despite His divine nature, Jesus humbled Himself, taking on human form and willingly submitted to suffering and death.
His willingness to wash His disciples’ feet was an act of service typically reserved for servants, illustrating His profound humility. Jesus instructed His followers to serve others rather than pursue positions of power or dominance. How humble are you?
Patience is the ability to endure difficulties and offenses without retaliation or resentment. Tolerance involves “bearing with one another.” Jesus consistently demonstrated patience and tolerance with His disciples, despite their frequent failure to understand His teachings. He also confronted opposition and mistreatment with patience and tolerance. How is your patience and tolerance of others?
The Christian faith is founded on God’s forgiveness, and believers are called to forgive others just as God has forgiven them. Jesus not only preached forgiveness but also modeled it, offering forgiveness to those who came to Him with genuine repentance.
His actions enabled reconciliation between God and humanity. Jesus demonstrated forgiveness as the initial step in repairing broken relationships, as illustrated in His story of the Prodigal Son’s return.
If forgiveness is a necessary first step, then reconciliation is the process that demands genuine repentance from the offender. Jesus emphasized the significance of forgiving others and pursuing reconciliation, even with those who have harmed us. However, this may not always be practical or suitable in cases of harm or abuse.
Jesus also taught that clinging to grudges and seeking revenge results in bitterness and exacerbates conflict. Who might you need to forgive?
Justice and righteousness are integral aspects of God’s character, revealed through God’s actions. Jesus advocated for the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized, challenging unjust systems. He even confronted religious leaders for neglecting justice and mercy in their teachings. Righteousness and holiness, referred to living a life set apart for God’s purposes, characterized by moral integrity and a commitment to Christ’s values. Where do you need to speak up on behalf of yourself or others?
Jesus’ teachings and actions serve as a powerful model for living a life defined by love in all its dimensions: compassion, kindness, humility, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, reconciliation, justice, and righteousness. These qualities are not just abstract ideals; as Christians we are meant to personify them in our daily lives.
I believe the best three ways to live out Jesus Christ’s teachings are to focus on values, trust, and integrity. By practicing these three principles, we can inspire others, drive positive change, and foster a more courageous and resilient atmosphere in our homes, businesses, organizations, and the Church.
Values represent ethical choices. Did you know that most companies and organizations have a set of values? Yet only ten percent (10%), or 1 in 10, truly align their operations or ministries with those values. Values are genuinely lived out only when we measure them and set boundaries around them. A failure of values happens when we fail to establish teachable or measurable behaviors. What do you value the most?
A company claims to value its customers but often ignores their complaints, fails to address their concerns, and prioritizes profits over customer satisfaction. When we lack values, we show a lack of respect for others’ time, money, and experiences, and as a result we lose their trust.
Losing trust can happen in various situations, but a common example is when someone breaks a promise or lies, and this is often made worse when the behavior is frequently repeated.
Trust, like love, influences everything. Most of us know that trust must be earned over time, based on genuine care and concern. Trust is essential for healthy connections and relationships.
For instance, a leader who consistently over-promises and under-delivers, or a friend who repeatedly shares your secrets, can erode trust. When trust diminishes, it can have a profound impact on relationships, teams, and individual well-being. In relationships, this erosion can lead to emotional distance, breakdowns in communication, and a lack of intimacy.
Overall, without trust, we foster a toxic environment. When trust is gone, it can result in stress, anxiety, and even depression.
Consider this jar of M&M’s. Each time trust is broken, it’s like someone came along and ate an M&M. You may not notice one missing M&M. Repeated breaches of trust are like someone taking a handful. Broken trust leads to an empty jar of M&Ms. As trust diminishes, our integrity disappears as well.
Integrity forms the basis of trust. It involves being honest, keeping your promises, and aligning your actions with good values. This quality is essential to being trustworthy. People trust you when they observe your integrity in action.
Loss of integrity directly affects trust. When you compromise your integrity, whether by lying, making excuses, or failing to follow through on commitments, it undermines trust. Each instance of dishonesty or irresponsibility is like taking another M&M out of our Jar of Trust.
When we consistently align our actions with Christ’s values, we can transform not only our own lives but also the lives of those around us. Additionally, when we adopt His values of love, compassion, kindness, humility, service, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, reconciliation, justice, and righteousness, we are truly fulfilling God’s will.
Living out Christ’s teachings is an ongoing journey of growth and transformation rather than a one-time event. It takes time and requires intentional effort, along with reliance on the Holy Spirit’s power, to lead a life that reflects Jesus Christ.
This week, consider how maintaining your values, building trust, and behaving with integrity are essential in both your personal and professional relationships. Ultimately, isn’t that what God wants from us?
Additionally, this is what it means to be the Church: to become disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Dear God, thank you for choosing me as your holy and beloved child. Help me to clothe myself in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Please grant me the ability to forgive others as you have forgiven me, and to bear with one another in tolerance. Above all, guide me to put on love, which binds everything together in perfect unity. Make me a vessel of your love and grace in the world around me. Amen.