You Will Evaluate What You Value

If you say the word evaluate aloud, you will hear the word value. Here’s why it’s important for you as a Christian to evaluate what you value.

Tom shot up angrily from his chair, sending it flying four feet into the shelves behind him. The company’s porcelain logo crashing to the floor added to the clamor of his disgruntled shouting. The knowledge of the prized symbol laying in a thousand pieces on the floor increased his vexation.

He stared at the mess behind him for a minute. There was no time to mourn sentiments. He had already missed his deadline, and had to scramble to find a way to save face at work.

“What is the ruckus in here?” his boss thundered at him from the doorway.

Tom whirled around to face Mr. Sanders blocking the doorway, his broad shoulders nearly filling the frame. “I know you missed your deadline, Tom, but I can’t have this kind of behavior on the job!”

“I—I’m sorry, Mr. Sanders.” Tom narrowed his gaze to a crack in the tiled floor.

Mr. Sanders cleared his throat, his uneasiness betraying him. “I’m sorry, too, Tom, but it’s gone on far too long. I’m going to have to let you go.”

After an awkward pause, Mr. Sanders stepped aside, and Tom wasted no time storming out the door. He took the stairs down, instead of the elevator; he desired to face no one at present.

Evaluate the Consequences

A moment more and he was sitting dismally in his Ford. Losing his job wasn’t what bothered him the most; there were other jobs.

“I’ve probably ruined my witness,” he said bitterly. “I’m sorry, Lord.”

It was the first time he took time to evaluate the consequences of his anger unchecked. He sighed regretfully. He sensed the Presence he couldn’t elude.

God laid it on his heart to memorize scriptures to avoid continuing in the same pattern. “Okay, Lord, I’ll do it.”

Immediately he knew his next job would turn out differently.

The Principle of Evaluation

If you say the word evaluate aloud, you will hear the word value. You will evaluate what you value.

The principle of evaluation is found in the Word of God (1 Corinthians 11:28; James 1:22-25). Inspect yourself because your life impacts others.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 1Corinthians 11:28 NKJV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22 NKJV

Do you want to be an influence to others?

Ask yourself questions like:

• Can others see Jesus in me?
• Am I giving my best effort on the job even when no one is looking?
• What is my attitude like?

Any time you begin a process of evaluation, look at the standard set by the Lord. What is that standard?

Love.

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39 ESV

Love is how you measure your life. Let love be your motivation.

Why It’s Important to Evaluate What You Value in Your Life

This is not to say that Christians are perfect. But Jesus never said to be perfect, He actually said to be mature. In Matthew 5:48 (NKJV), Jesus said, “You Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon for the word perfect here is speaking of maturity, specifically, “of mind and character, one who has reached the proper height of virtue and integrity.”

That means you are in the process of changing and growing, and part of that process is evaluation.

Why is it important to look at your life and see if it is looking more and more like Jesus?

Because Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12).

Do you value your life’s witness to those who don’t know Jesus?

I hope you answered yes to that question.

You may be the only Jesus those around you ever see.

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