Biblical Answer

Can our actions reflect our true values?

Our actions indeed reflect our true values. Our values tell us what things should be like, not just what they are like. If things are going one way, our values tell us that perhaps they ought to go a different way. For example, most parents teach their children that honesty is the first place. If the value of every action is to be determined by the consequence the action has on human well-being, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to make these assessments with certainty. However, our actions can reflect our values, even if we do not always live up to them.

According to the Bible, we are responsible for our actions and choices. We are significant and we are responsible for our decisions. Our choices and decisions are reasonable, and we are accountable for them. As the Bible says, "So, in answer to the question that opened this chapter: No, we cannot avoid answering the question of whether there are objective moral values and duties by how we live. Its unavoidable." (WSA, 275) Our actions are a reflection of our values, and our values are a reflection of our relationship with God.

In order to live a life that reflects our true values, we need to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Our actions will be guided by our values, and our values will be guided by our relationship with God. As the Bible says, "We cannot discover our real meaning by regarding ourselves and our own happiness as the highest of all values, nor find happiness, fulfillment, or satisfaction by seeking it directly. Our value has been conferred on us by a higher source, and our perceptions of value are simply givens of experience." (WSA, 276) When we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, our values will be aligned with God's values, and our actions will reflect our true values.