This week I added another book to my ‘books I MAY get to’ list, called ‘The road to character’ by David Brooks. In it he discusses the difference between ‘resume values’ – personal successes we strive after, and ‘eulogy values’ – what we’d like read at our funeral (e.g. bold, loving, dependable).
Brooks’ thesis is western society generally spends more time focussing on resume values than eulogy values; but that it should be the other way around. Spending more time focussing on one’s character will of course have positive effects on society, as we become more loving, compassionate and forgiving. Yet Brooks argues there are personal benefits as well; for in order to fulfil yourself, you have to forget yourself. The Bible helps flesh out what this means.
While the Bible is not against personal success (resume values), it’s teaching is heavily weighted towards character (eulogy values). Jesus does not summarise the law with ‘work hard’ and ‘pursue success’, but rather ‘love God’ and ‘love your neighbour’. To fulfil this dictum requires putting our personal success second. Jesus declares his law to be the path to ‘life to the full’ (John 10:10). Yet how is this so?
The sad irony of resume values is they make life less fulfilling. When one focuses on their own personal goals (resume), as western individualism of course promotes, our lives end up impacting no one but ourselves. The more individualistic one becomes, the less they matter in the world. Yet when one focuses on how they can help others (eulogy), they impact many people around them, making their life hugely meaningful to society.
Since fulfilment in life (i.e. life to the full) comes from feeling our life has meaning, then we must heed Brooks’ advice, and focus less on our resume, and more serving others. So may we work hard this week at serving our family, our church, our community, and beyond.
