Matthew 5:13-16 MSG
“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be SALTSEASONING that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose
your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your
usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Here’s another way to put
it: You’re here to be LIGHT, bringing out the God-colors in the world.
God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public
as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going
to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand.
Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep
open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others,
you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in
heaven.”
VALUE PEOPLE
Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility
VALUE OTHERS above yourselves, not looking to your own interests
but each of you to the interests of the others.
Matthew 7:12 MSG
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what
you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for
them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.”
What Does Valuing People Look Like?
- Value other people’s point-of-view.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 MSG
Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone,
I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a
wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists,
loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I
didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I
entered their world and tried to experience things from THEIR POINT
OF VIEW. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my
attempts to lead those I meet into a GOD-SAVED LIFE. I did all this
because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to
be IN ON IT!
What Does Valuing People Look Like? - Value people by adding value to people.
Maslow’s Five Needs:
- PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS: food, water, shelter, clothing, health
- SAFETY NEEDS: emotional wellbeing, health, financial security
- LOVE AND BELONGING NEEDS: friendship, family
- ESTEEM NEEDS: knowing you are valuable, knowing you matter
- SELF-ACTUALIZATION: fulfilling your purpose
What Does Valuing People Look Like?
- Value people by seeing them the way Jesus sees people.