Core Values of the New Community
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Key Verse: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Selected Scripture: |
AS WE CONSIDER THE subject of this verse, our attention should be drawn to the order in which it is worded. The first and most important thing for a child of God to do is to strive to seek a place with the Redeemer in the true glory and power of his coming kingdom. It points out that we are to seek them by lifting our affections from earthly things. “Set your affection on things above.” (Col. 3:2) To do this, one must have an earnest desire and a singleness of heart. We must realize that God will look out for our earthly interests if we desire to do everything that is in harmony with his will.
The things that we value most are naturally those that we will seek after. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:34) If the words and teachings of Christ have entered our heart, then our mind, aims, and ambitions are being transformed. “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom. 12:2) In this manner, we will seek ways to develop and to increase our love, trust, zeal, and devotion to God, and conformity to the character of the Lord Jesus.
The Apostle Paul tells us that, “We have the mind of Christ.” (I Cor. 2:14-16) This means that we are endeavoring to think as Christ thought, and to do as he did, or would do, in our daily circumstances. It is to have a disposition that is loving and kind, generous and forgiving toward others. It also requires us to be reverential and obedient to God. If we do this, we will be able to appreciate spiritual things. These can only be discerned by those who have the Spirit, or mind, of the Father, of his plan, and the Spirit of truth. The Spirit of the Lord is the power or influence exerted upon those who have surrendered their own wills and are obedient to the Divine will. Only the Spirit-begotten may understand the deep things of God, and their understanding is in proportion as they develop more of the Spirit of God. They seek “after righteousness”—after that which is good and true.—Matt. 5:6
This development may be referred to as possessing the fruits and graces of the Holy Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:22,23,25) “The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.”—Eph. 5:9
These, along with brotherly kindness, are the core values that must be found in our heart if we are to be pleasing to God. (II Pet. 1:5-8) They are so important that the Lord Jesus put them into the form of a commandment. “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: … and love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Mark 12:30,31) Charity, or love, is one of the most important tests for membership in the body of Christ, for entrance into the new community, or household, of faith. It is an unselfish love, and one that shall be the standard by which all men in the coming age will live.—John 15:10-14