Values and Priorities

There are many people who read the Bible, and every one of them might have a unique way of interpreting it. This actually occurred recently between myself and one of my patients. We actually both had unique interpretations about the Tower of Babel.

However, in the end, we both decided that every Christian, every person who believes in God, or studies the Bible, however religious, should get two things out of it.

1. Virtues: We must all be virtuous above all else
2. Priorities: We must have our priorities in order

Jesus said that the most important commandment is to believe in God, and the second most important commandment is that you should love your neighbor, and treat your neighbor as you would yourself.

If we can skim it down, if you put God first, then you are putting virtues first. If you are putting your neighbors second, then you are thus putting God first, and thus virtues first. If you are a virtuous person, then you will not only love your neighbor, you will be loved by your neighbor.

So it comes down to -- bottom line -- values and priorities.

Humility

I wrote a while back how life is humbling, it's not just baseball itself is humbling, as many athletes say.  Most God fearing people are trained to be humble, and as we face the trials and trivializations of life this often becomes the case by default.

According to Wikepedia (sure why now), humble is defined as such:

"Humility (adjectival form: humble) is the quality of being modest, reverential, even politely submissive, and never being arrogant, contemptuous, rude or even self-abasing. Humility, in various interpretations, is widely seen as a virtue in many religious and philosophical traditions, being connected with notions of transcendent
unity with the universe or the divine, and of egolessness.

Humility means being aware of the feelings and needs of the people around you and finding a place for them in your heart. Sometimes needs are short term, sometimes long term.

Needs? What are needs?

Needs can be something physical like food and water and shelter, or something internal, like an ear to listen to you, a hug, or a friend.

Most people who who work in the medical profession say they went into medical field because they love people. Yet do they truly have "empathy?" Do they truly have humility?

I don't see humility when I approach the nurses station and the staff is complaining about how they didn't get a raise for the year, and how the bosses are "ignorant" for not giving "me" a raise.

I don't see humility in that, because a person with humility would see that the boss didn't give anyone raises so all staff could keep their jobs. A humble person would jump into his bosses shoes and see what it's like from that perspective (although there are selfish, greedy exceptions of course).

I have humility, I would imagine, when I get called stat to do an EKG that is not needed in my opinion. The whole time I'm walking down there I'm thinking what I'm going to tell the irritating nurses who keeps calling me stat for non life threatening instances.

Yet, once I see the nurse, I see them as the people they are, just working to make a living. So, instead of complaining to them, instead of lecturing them, I keep my mouth shut and just do the job.

I may not do it with a smile, but at least I'm respectful.

Say it's slow at work and your boss says, "One of you RTs needs to go home." Your coworker is burned out and really wants to go home. Yet she says, "Why don't you go home, you have little kids and a wife who is sick."

That was a humble act in my opinion.

Some doctors in the emergency room will not consider the opinions of any other person in the room. They order what they want and complain when it's not done. They walk with their heads high as though they are better than everyone else. Humble they are not.

On the other hand, the humble doctor says, "Does any one else in the room have any ideas that might help this patient?"

Humility is sacrificing your own pride to lift up the other person's pride. Humility is sacrificing your time and energy and your own personal needs to make someone else happy.

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Theological Virtues

There are three theological virtues.  Unlike the Cardinal Virtues which can be practiced by anyone, theological virtues can only be practiced by those who receive them, and they are gifts of grace from God.

They are habits that become stronger as we practice them. Their immediate and proper object is God, and so they are infused in our soul. Like all virtues, they become a habit.  The include the following.

1.  Faith: It is showing our love for God through our action, such as practicing the cardinal virtues. It's a gift that allows us to reason that God exists, and that all knowledge extends from Him.  It is knowing that knowledge extends far beyond our intellect. So faith helps us grasp the truth of divine revelation. Faith is also knowing that man cannot fully grasp the true nature of the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), which is why it's referred to as a mystery. Since humans have free will, we can reject the gift of faith.  When we revolt against God through sin, God may withdraw the gift of faith.

2.  Hope: It can only be practiced by those who believe in God, and has as it's ultimate object union with God in Heaven.  It is trusting that God will grant eternal life if we practice what He has taught us. It is knowing that we cannot achieve eternal life on our own, it's belief or confidence that God will show us how to obtain eternal life, and belief or confidence that He will actually grant it to us when the time comes.

3.  Charity:  It's loving God above all else, and loving others for God's sake.  The exercise of it increase our love for God and our fellow man. It depends on faith, because without faith in God we cannot love, nor can we love our fellow man for God's sake. It is considered by many to be the greatest of all the virtues.

What are the cardinal virtues

Cardinal virtues are the four principle moral virtues, and all other virtues hinge on these four.  Unlike the theological virtues which are gifts of God through grace, the cardinal virtues can be practiced by anyone.  They include:

Prudence: It allows us to judge correctly what is right and what is wrong in any given situation. Doing the work of God shows good prudence. Doing the work of the devil shows poor prudence.  Because it is so easy to fall into error, it is essential that we seek the help of others.  Disregarding the advice of others is considered imprudence.  Regarding the advice of others is prudence. Prudence helps us decide what needs to be done. 

Justice: It is giving everything and everyone it's rightful attention.  We must not judge based on personal views, we must judge based on what is true.  For instance, if we owe someone money, we must pay him the money we owe, regardless of whether we like that person. If we are deciding on whether something is legal or not legal, we must make our decision based on the law of the land, not on our own personal political affiliation. It is doing what is right regardless of our opinion. Justice helps us decide what needs to be done. 

Fortitude: It is the ability to conquer fear and remain steady when facing obstacles.  It's the restraint of fear so we can act. Fortitude gives us the strength to do what needs to be done. Fortitude is also the only cardinal virtue that is also a one of the seven gifts of the holy spirit. 

Temperance: It's the restraint of our desires and actions. While food, drink and sex are all needs, too much of of any of them can have undesirable consequences. Temperance prevents us from overindulging. 

The best way to raise a family is under God

I like to equate God with virtues, values, and morals.  In that way, it's from reading the Bible, from going to Church, that we learn these things.  It is for this reason that it's important that if you have kids that you take them to Church and raise them under the influence of God and Jesus and Christianity.

Both my parents and both sets of grandparents did this, and all of their children grew up to become respectable adults.  So when I started a family there wasn't a thought in my mind to try something different.  I am presently raising all my kids under the influence of God.

However, I know people who aren't.  And I have no problem with it.  I mean, you do what you feel you have to do.  I'm not saying you can't raise good kids without going to Church, but studies show it's harder.  In fact, every study ever done on the subject shows that children raised under God have a significantly higher chance of succeeding in life.

I mean, the numbers are so much higher it's not even close.  Kids not raised under god have a significantly higher risk of depression, anxiety, fear of death, anger, hate, etc.  They also have a significantly higher rate of getting in trouble, spending time in jail or prison, etc.

The neat thing is, however, is that without doing one study, people over 2,000 years ago figured this out.  Anyone who reads history books knows that prior to the Hebrews people married whomever they wanted to marry, had sex with whomever they desired, raped whomever they desired, aborted babies they didn't want. The result of this was lots of children in many families, and no family stability.  It also resulted in the spread of disease.

It was for this reason that the Jews, the Hebrews, created the laws they did.  It was for this reason that God, through Moses, created the laws he did.  He wanted to make sure people respected him.  He wanted to make sure people had morals and virtues.  He wanted to make sure people respected him and feared him, the way they should respect and fear their parents.

And it worked.  The Jews learned that in homes with a mom and a dad children had the stability they needed.  From mom they learned to love and respect God, and from dad they learned how to work hard and to respect women.

I'm not an expert on this subject, but I've read many books where the authors say that people who don't go to church don't go because they don't want to be judged. Christians do judge.  But we also love and respect people.

I have never once ever saw a Christian, a good Christian anyway, ever say anything bad at another person because he had a child out of wedlock, or a divorce, or anything like that.  They just don't do that.

Another reason they say people don't go to church is because it's too inconvenient.  And I will admit that it is inconvenient.  But the end product of children who love and fear the Lord, and who learn about the values and virtues that are needed to live a successful life makes all this inconvenience worth it in the end.

The Bible and God and Christianity are morals, virtues, and principles.  That's the bottom line here.  People figured this out over 2,000 years ago, so why would you want to go and wreck a system that has worked so well for so many years?

You don't learn morals and values when the dad is the government.

 I mean, even if you don't believe in God, you should do it for the children.