Choosing the Right Values

This will be a continuation from my previous post "Making the Right Choices". The learning focus this time around is "Compromise with the world's values means abandoning God's values." It is a timely message especially for those who are already in the world like young pros like Elliott and me. Because I feel most high school students are still pampered in their comfort zones. Yet come the time to enter into college, most students, if not all, feel the pressure to adapt to the world's ways. That's why we have terms like "culture shock." They now see a big difference in living life that is pleasing to God and living life that is following the world's ways. Sounds familiar? Again this goes back to the issue of making the right choices and sticking to it!

Section 1: Spiritual Compromise
Often times when we get tempted by the world, we gradually take them into our lives. I like Rev. Billy's picture of a man who is running the race of his life based on Psalm 1. But then something in the crowds caught his eye that made him to walk instead of run. While he was walking, he suddenly stopped and stood there to get a better glimpse of that thing. And finally he sat down with the people who have that item and discuss with them without knowing that by this, the people already has affected his way of life, his way of thinking even his beliefs. The runner failed to run the race faithfully and just continue to imbibe what circumstances has led him to believe.

When we are not careful in this world, we leave ourselves open to situations where we are faced with certain choices that affect our values. And if our value system is not that rooted firmly in its foundation, most of the time we are dragged into the other person's or the world's value system. Solomon was tagged as the "Half-hearted man" which was always contrasted in the Bible with his father David who was tagged as the "Whole-hearted man". Both of these imply how they sought the Lord during their kingship over the Israelites. Both have been in situations where they were tested and even failed the test, but the difference lies in David's attitude and love of God. As for Solomon, his love for women intruded in his relationship with God and loosened the foundation of his faith. As a result, he became numbed to God's calling and commandments.

Section 2: Spiritual Numbness
We can imply from Solomon's actions that he clearly knew what must be done, but he was blinded by all of his 700 wives and 300 concubines. Imagine having to wake up every morning listening to your wives that we should do this or that! No wonder Solomon, not even the wisest man, can escape being affected by the backgrounds, beliefs, cultures, and pagan practices brought by his wives. But the blame is not entirely on the wives of Solomon. He himself brought this on himself when he did not listen to the God, the Supreme Wisdom, the One who granted him wisdom in the first place.

We all know that Solomon had good intentions in asking for wisdom and that is to govern well the people of the Lord in a way that is pleasing to Him. And yet here we see a different Solomon who valued politics and peace treaties more than preserving the good intention of the Lord's gift to him. Instead of thanking and praising the Source of Wisdom, he abandoned and turned to worship other gods. Not a wise thing to do isn't it? So the Lord judged him fairly out of his mercy and made him to suffer the consequences of his actions. And this is what happens when we place ourselves outside of God's plan and do things our own way.

Section 3: Spiritual Obedience
Again we go back to the question, if God knew that we would sin, would He have given us still the freewill to choose? I believe He would still give us that because He is more glorified when we choose to honor Him in our lives. In a unrealistic setting where there is no sin, where there are no temptations, it will definitely be easier to choose God. But in reality, it is not like that... we live in a world full of sin and temptation, and it is to God's glory and satisfaction when we His children choose to obey Him and choose to use this gift of freewill for His love and devotion alone!

Solomon had it going for him - wealth, power, glory. But he traded all of these for the one true thing that lasts and that is the relationship with God. He tried to claim God's victories as His own victories and God's wisdom as his own wisdom when it is clear that all of it is only possible because God permitted it so. In the end, God punished him for his disobedience and his own follies. Let this serve as a reminder for us to continue to devote our lives to Him!