Do you ever hear something or see something and just ‘have’ to react to it?
It happens to me all the time, someone will say something and it will be like an itch I have to scratch, I just can’t resist it.
So todays post comes courtesy of Wal-mart, who just threw something out there that i have to ‘scratch”.
Before I go any further, How can I shop at Wal-mart and still sleep at night? I never slept very well at night before I started shopping at Wal-Mart, so what’s the difference? I know, I know, how can I call myself a Christian and still shop there? Well, my answer is simple. Wal-Mart is the product of the American values system. Liberty, Freedom, capitalism, ‘the American dream’, prosperity for all who are prepared to work for it – those values mean that Wal-mart and Microsoft and McDonald’s are inevitable. You made it from your value system, I just shop there!
Anyway, to get back on track, I walked into Wal-Mart today and saw a display of items for $1. On the display were pens and pads of paper and useless little knick-knacks for the home and above it was a sign saying ‘Values for everyday living’.
Let me tell you, you can’t buy values for $1. In fact, you can’t BUY values at all, you probably can’t get them in a grocery store and they DEFINITELY don’t come cheap.
Values for everyday living are found in the bible and they come at a price. Values tend to fly in the face of modern culture and so having them will make you seem ‘odd’ or ‘weird’ or ‘different’.
I’m talking about GOOD values of course, many people have values for everyday living that are far from good and people barely blink an eye at those people.
Real values for everyday living can be found in the Ten Commandments and in Jesus’ sermons in Matthew (Matthew chapters 5-7 are a good place to start).
Real values for everyday living, when coupled with a heart for God and love for your neighbors will bring people to recognize the love and glory of God. real values are so alien in the 21st century that people will be unable to do anything but recognize the reason for you holding those values – and it will affect them deeply, no matter how they may seem to react to you.
As Francis of Assisi said:
Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.
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In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)