Values are a popular concept today. It is used all the way from our highest-ranking elected officials to multibillion-dollar corporations, to philanthropists, to non-profit organizations, churches, and right down to the individuals. You could say there is a buffet of values today! Values encapsulate the purpose and goals of the person or group. Stating their values serves as a rutter that directs decisions and how resources are used. Values point to morals.

As the culture shifts to be more secular, we find the values of individuals or groups are often in conflict with the virtues of Scripture: when life begins, gender, marriage, the family, work ethic, the origin of the universe just to name a few. There is an attempt to have morals without God – But I would respectfully present to you that is an impossibility!

In 1896 George Jacob Holyoake, an atheist and coiner of the term Secularism, insisted it is possible to do good apart from God, saying, “It is good to do good.” What good was he referring to? Reflecting on what is good for secularists, sociologist Phil Zuckerman said, “The answer is simple: the Golden Rule. Being good means treating others as we would like to be treated. That is the bedrock of secular morality.” And who could argue that is not a good thing to do. However, unbeknownst to Zuckerman, the Golden Rule is taken from the Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” What we see here is that there can be no true and lasting values or virtues or morals that are not based on God. For the Christian, our values need to be based on the virtue of Christ and the doctrine that is revealed in Holy Scripture.

Sunday, we are talking about the pursuit of righteousness. This righteousness is not subjective or individualistic. It is a clear reference to what is RIGHT based on the person and character of God! God himself is righteousness! He is always right! It is impossible for him to be wrong!  God himself is the standard of what is right! Jesus’ promise is that hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be satisfied. Join us this Sunday as we find lasting satisfaction for our deepest hungers.