Creating a Personal Value System

A personal value system is based on principles to which you dedicate your life, family, and/or mission. They are your codes of conduct, how you measure your decisions, the compass by which you set your goals, and determine whether or not you’ll participate in any particular event, conversation, or venture. Values are concepts such as kindness, compassion, fair treatment of the earth, equality, honesty, putting God first, commitment, love, boldness, and glorifying Christ in all things.

People with higher purposes will naturally possess higher values. The famous psychiatrist Abraham Maslow created a “Hierarchy of needs.”  At the bottom of his pyramid, someone or something is simply roaming the earth looking to meet their basic needs of water, food, shelter, and self-preservation. When you’re simply meeting needs, values often go out the window and rather than higher values, end up submitting to jungle law.

Those that ascend the pyramid towards self-actualization, potential, and purpose will only get there and stay there with a higher-level value code.

We don’t want to participate in the rat race.  We fall into the rodent culture when we simply attempt to make our way around the maze to get to the food. With your purpose and values intact, it’s proven, that you not only meet your needs – you exceed them.

True success is found in life on purpose (double meaning intended). Your value system is a decision-making, investment-shaking, moral compass. While you may occasionally veer off track, when you have a value code, at least you can find true north.   

Ultimately you will reach a place where you never sacrifice your values for your needs.  God only builds strong houses on the rock of strong values. And, if God does not build the house, you labor in vain (Ps 127).  Thankfully, He does not give you a value-vision without the required provision. Therefore, you do not have to be anxious about any of your needs.  In fact, on-purpose we’re on-path towards “exceedingly more than we can ask or even imagine (Eph 3:20).

What are your values?

With God, all things are possible,

Dr. Ben Lerner