When Jesus was asked what was the greatest command, he replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength," and the second command was like it, "Love your neighbor as yourself." The interrelationship of these two commands is profound. They are two sides of a coin... in essence, they are the same command. That is why Jesus said, "the second is like it." I must love God, and I must also love people.
A further realization is that I am to love my neighbor as I love myself. I am to love and respect myself as God does in order to properly love my neighbor. I must understand how I like to be treated so that I may do to others what I would have them do to me. Therefore, some degree of love for myself (as God does) is essential to a healthy life.
This laid the framework for the four primary values which underpin all of the others. I desire (1) a fullfilling walk with God, (2) deep relationships, (3) a noble character, and (4) visionary direction. Later, I described these four values as the four loves of my life. I love God. I love people. I love righteousness. And I love life.
Under each of the four primary values, I elaborated the meaning of each by describing four subsidiary values. I also identified a character in the Bible whose life was exemplary of the value.
Since that time in 1990, these values continue to guide and direct my life.
| Love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength | and love your neighbor... | as you love yourself... | |
| A FULFILLING WALK WITH GOD (love God) | DEEP RELATIONSHIPS (love people) | NOBLE CHARACTER (love righteousness) | VISIONARY DIRECTION (love life) |
| HOPELESSLY IN LOVE: (David, the Psalmist) Ecstasy and fulfillment just to consider God. His Word is the desire of my mind day and night. | HARMONY: (Barnabas, Son of Encouragement) preemptive love. work well and resolve conflicts with family, leadership, authority, or peers. eager to help others to be good team players also. all mankind is my team. loyal and faithful. | PURPOSE: (Jesus, Focused on the Goal) planning. focus. no thought or action taken outside my purpose. no time to lose. every moment devoted to the goal. undistractable. resolute. decisive. self-controlled and disciplined. never abandoning responsibility for my actions. | LEADERSHIP: (David, the King) setting the pace. leading the way. blazing a new trail. a leader among leaders. the kind of man people want to be led by. |
| AWARENESS: (Jeremiah, Weeping Prophet) aware of God's guiding hand, resulting in peace and joy amid difficulty. unflappable. patient. confident. never unsettled or insecure. | SERVICE: (Jesus, the Slave) selfless. obedient. responsive. extra mile. I will do anything for you. I am your slave. help people become what they want to be. adopting another's values and always exceeding his own expectations. hospitable. turning enemies to friends. considerate of the poor and needy. | HEART: every action is packed with depth, sincerity, and emotion that can be felt. always hope, courage, and confidence in the face of all odds. joy overwhelms duty as my motivation. | EXCELLENCE: never settle for less than my best. everything I do I am proud of. able to say no or get help on things I cannot do. dreams, zeal, and enthusiasm for every job. always stretching higher. |
| RELIANCE: (Moses, Intercessor/Lawgiver) turn to God and His Word for guidance in everything. continually praying, acting, expecting results, and being thankful for the outcome. | UPBUILDING: (Barnabas, Son of Encouragement) everyone I contact will be the better for it. I become great by building others up, and never by tearing them down. true respect and admiration for everyone I encounter reduces potential bitterness and resentment to ashes. every word demonstrates consideration of the needs of those who hear. | ACTION: (Nehemiah, the Builder) turning ideas into gold. go for it. no holding back. no procrastination. no dreaming without the intent to act. never missing an opportunity. | IMPACT: (Elijah, man of God) people will know that an amazing man has been among them (Glory to God). results, not simply a good effort, are my goal. |
| RESPONSIVENESS: (David, a Broken Man) completely and immediately obey the Word of God. radically reactive to personal impurity. | BONDING: (Paul, Heartfelt Concern) relationships that last a lifetime. priceless memories. consideration. gestures of thanks. letters. shared feelings. painfully honest and open. having compassion and empathy. showing mercy and forgiveness. patient and gentle. | INTEGRITY: (Daniel, the Administrator) organized. reliable. not corrupt or negligent in anything. a place for everything and everything in its place. financially responsible. clean. neat. well dressed and groomed. without obnoxious habits. clean desk, living area, laundry. details done immediately. never in a hurry but always on time. | UNSTOPPABLE: (Jesus, "I will rise") turning defeat to victory. winning where others face defeat. changing the rules. altering the game. eyes always on the goal beyond. always a winning riposte. endurance and perseverance until success despite previous failures. annihilating obstacles by accepting rejection, pain, and discomfort freely. |