“Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant than he who honors himself but lacks bread” (Proverbs 12:9).
Your values matter. They are best seen in very practical and personal ways.
When you value genuine prosperity and success over other’s perceptions and opinions you are far wiser than the one who seeks to impress others and honors himself into bankruptcy.
In the final analysis, the opinion others have of you ought to be near the very bottom of importance on your scale of values. No one’s opinion of you will ever pay a bill, increase your net worth, or buy your groceries. Instead, valuing the hard work—even if it is menial, exhausting, and demeaned by others—is wise. It is extremely valuable, because it pays the bills, increases your net worth, and buys the groceries.
In addition, striving to impress others, especially when it prompts you to live beyond your means, is another item which ought to be at the very bottom of your values scale. For far too many people, “keeping up with the Joneses” has resulted in appearing in bankruptcy court on the same day they did. Congratulations! What a foolish waste of time, energy, and money.
Living like a king to impress others while you are starving like a pauper at home is clear proof of foolish and inverted values. Don’t do it. Be wiser than that.
Your values matter.
