Lost and Found Values
A tribute to the life, legacy and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (with Excerpts from “Rediscovering Lost Values” preached by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Second Baptist Church, Detroit, Michigan, February 28, 1954).
Scripture
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Thought for Today
We are living in a period of immense prosperity for some and profound poverty for others. There is a great divide in our nation and the world, and that divide is widening daily. We are also experiencing a rapid decline in moral values and good old-fashioned respect. It is difficult to remember a time when public name calling, character attacks and outright meanness were practiced daily by elected officials and business leaders who hold the highest offices in our country. This erosion of values at the top has swept through our society like a tornado through a defenseless community. We see it everywhere in our lives. People behaving rudely, yelling profanities, fighting others, and attempting the make their point by any means they choose.
The result? A fundament loss of human decency, lack of respect for other people and an indifference toward the laws of God. Where is the standard of moral law and values that was once part of the way we lived and taught our children to live? I submit that the standard has been lost because our society has strayed from practicing God’s values from the Bible. Certainly, there are many people who practice the moral values declared in God’s Word, however the soul of our nation is tainted by those who live lawlessly.
Dr. King stated, “The great problem facing modern man is that the means by which we live have outdistanced the spiritual ends for which we live.” In that moment, he revealed our focus on “means” or material things has exceeded of focus on spiritual values. When this happens in a society, people become so consumed with the pursuit of their rights and possessions that knowing and serving God and one’s neighbors loses importance.
But do not despair, all is not lost! We as a people can find, practice, and teach moral values again if we choose to return to the values God commands in the Bible as the basis for the way we live.
Dr. King expressed the same optimism later his sermon when He stated:
“If we are to go forward, if we are to make this a better world in which to live, we’ve got to go back. We’ve got to rediscover these precious values that we’ve left behind.”
In Deuteronomy 6, The Lord sums up this great moral command when The Lord declares through Moses, that they must “Love the Lord with all of their heart, soul and strength…” He further commends the words to their hearts and commands them to always teach these values to their children continually ().
As he closes, Dr. King emphatically declares His faith in God to restore lost values by preaching” “I’m not going to put my ultimate faith in the little gods that can be destroyed in an atomic age, but the God who has been our help in the ages past, and our hope for years to come, and our shelter in the time of storm, and our eternal home.”
May the Lord restore and strengthen moral values in us as we love Him, keep His commandments, and obey His word. May we pass on our faith and values to our children that they will live by Your word.
Time to Pray
Almighty God, You have commanded me to love You with all of my being, to keep your commandments and teach them to my children. Your word is the source of all truth, righteousness, and moral values. I confess that I have allowed my values to stray from the standards of your word. Teach me to keep Your holy values at all times by the power of the Holy Spirit so that I may glory to Your name. Amen!
Thank you God for reminding us through your word and through your faithful Pastors that a return to your values will heal our souls and our land. Amen
Thank you, Pastor Joe for reminding us of our godly responsibilities. I have at times found myself being overtly critical of some political figures. I realize that I have a responsibility to pray instead of criticizing .