Living by Your Core Values for a Purposeful Life

 

Summary

In our journey through life, it's crucial to identify and live by our core values. These values serve as the foundation upon which we build our lives and make decisions. I posed a question to you: What are the most important values in your life? Can you name them instantly? For me, the values of integrity, humility, and generosity have been my guiding principles for over 30 years. These values are not just ideals but are the antidotes to the common traps of leadership.

If you find yourself unable to name your core values, it's a sign that you might not be living by them. To truly live a life aligned with your beliefs, you must first identify and clarify what matters most to you. This requires introspection and a commitment to understanding your priorities. Once you have identified these values, write them down. This act of writing solidifies your commitment and serves as a constant reminder of what you stand for.

As we move forward, I encourage you to take time to reflect on your values. Before you continue with your daily routine, sit down and ask yourself: What are the top values in my life? This exercise is not just about listing words but about understanding the essence of who you are and who you want to become. By clarifying your values, you set a clear path for your actions and decisions, ensuring that you live a life of purpose and meaning.

Key Takeaways:

- Identify Your Core Values: Understanding your core values is essential for living a life of purpose. Without knowing what you stand for, it's challenging to make decisions that align with your beliefs. Take time to reflect and identify the values that are most important to you. [00:10]

- Integrity, Humility, and Generosity: These values serve as antidotes to the traps of leadership. Integrity ensures honesty and trustworthiness, humility keeps us grounded, and generosity fosters a spirit of giving and compassion. Consider adopting these values as guiding principles in your life. [00:21]

- The Power of Writing Down Values: Writing down your values solidifies your commitment to them. It serves as a constant reminder of what you stand for and helps guide your actions and decisions. Make it a habit to revisit and reflect on your values regularly. [00:47]

- Living by Your Values: Once you have identified your values, strive to live by them daily. This alignment between belief and action leads to a fulfilling and meaningful life. It requires conscious effort and dedication but is ultimately rewarding. [00:32]

- Reflect and Reassess: As life evolves, so might your values. Regularly take time to reflect and reassess what matters most to you. This practice ensures that you remain true to yourself and continue to grow in alignment with your core beliefs. [00:58]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Identifying Core Values
[00:21] - Integrity, Humility, Generosity
[00:32] - Living by Your Values
[00:47] - The Importance of Writing Down Values
[00:58] - Reflect and Reassess

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Proverbs 11:3 - "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity."
- Micah 6:8 - "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
- 2 Corinthians 9:7 - "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

#### Observation Questions
1. According to the sermon, what are the three core values that the speaker has chosen to build their life on? [00:21]
2. What does the speaker suggest is the first step in living a life aligned with one's beliefs? [00:47]
3. How does the speaker describe the role of writing down one's values in the process of living by them? [00:47]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How might the values of integrity, humility, and generosity serve as antidotes to the traps of leadership, as mentioned in the sermon? [00:21]
2. In what ways does the act of writing down values help solidify one's commitment to them, according to the sermon? [00:47]
3. How does the speaker suggest that one's values might evolve over time, and why is it important to reassess them regularly? [00:58]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Can you name your top three core values instantly? If not, what steps can you take this week to identify and clarify them? [00:10]
2. Consider the value of integrity. How can you ensure that your actions this week align with this value, especially in challenging situations? [00:21]
3. Humility is a key value mentioned in the sermon. What is one practical way you can practice humility in your interactions with others this week? [00:21]
4. Generosity is highlighted as a guiding principle. Identify one opportunity this week where you can give generously, whether it be time, resources, or encouragement. [00:21]
5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of writing down values. Have you ever written down your values? If not, take time this week to do so and reflect on how this might impact your daily decisions. [00:47]
6. As life changes, so might your values. What is one area of your life where you feel your values might be shifting, and how can you reassess them to ensure they align with your current beliefs? [00:58]
7. Think about a recent decision you made. How did your core values influence that decision, and what might you do differently in the future to ensure your values guide your choices? [00:32]

Devotional

Day 1: Discovering Your Core Values
Understanding your core values is essential for living a life of purpose. Without knowing what you stand for, it's challenging to make decisions that align with your beliefs. Take time to reflect and identify the values that are most important to you. [00:10]

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21, ESV)

Reflection: What are three values that you believe are most important in your life right now, and how do they influence your daily decisions?


Day 2: Embracing Integrity, Humility, and Generosity
Integrity, humility, and generosity serve as antidotes to the traps of leadership. Integrity ensures honesty and trustworthiness, humility keeps us grounded, and generosity fosters a spirit of giving and compassion. Consider adopting these values as guiding principles in your life. [00:21]

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility and generosity in your interactions with others this week?


Day 3: The Power of Writing Down Values
Writing down your values solidifies your commitment to them. It serves as a constant reminder of what you stand for and helps guide your actions and decisions. Make it a habit to revisit and reflect on your values regularly. [00:47]

"Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it." (Habakkuk 2:2, ESV)

Reflection: Take a moment to write down your core values. How does seeing them in writing change your perspective or commitment to them?


Day 4: Living by Your Values
Once you have identified your values, strive to live by them daily. This alignment between belief and action leads to a fulfilling and meaningful life. It requires conscious effort and dedication but is ultimately rewarding. [00:32]

"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ." (Philippians 1:27a, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one decision you need to make this week. How can you ensure that this decision aligns with your core values?


Day 5: Reflect and Reassess
As life evolves, so might your values. Regularly take time to reflect and reassess what matters most to you. This practice ensures that you remain true to yourself and continue to grow in alignment with your core beliefs. [00:58]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves." (2 Corinthians 13:5a, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent change in your life. How has this change affected your values, and what adjustments might you need to make to stay true to them?

Quotes

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Transcript
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