Day 2: Virtue

Doing all things for the glory of God

Virtue, which may also be translated as moral excellence, transcends mere good works. Virtue is lifestyle of action and attitude that is a response to the understanding that; a) all things belong to God (c.f. Romans 11.33-36); b) He is glorious (Psalm 24); c) we—as His people—have the honor and stewardship of living out that truth (1 Peter 2.9). Therefore, to be virtuous, is to live a life of integrity—integrity of action and attitude—for the glory of God (Colossians 3).

• Read 2 Peter 1.5-8
• In what areas of your life is God inviting you to apply virtue to?

Finances. I feel pretty virtuous when it comes to most things in my life, except money. I grew up in a family with parents who worked hard and made very good money. My parents came from families who only had what they needed to survive, so I feel like they lived vicariously though me and my sister, getting us anything we wanted. If we mentioned having an interest in something, my Dad would go out and buy the top-of-the-line of whatever items were needed to fulfill that interests. No expense was spared. We also did not attend church when I was growing up and I never knew anything about giving money to the church until I was in college. I wondered for so long how my family could have been as blessed as it was, with my parents ignoring God’s command to tithe. This was a dangerous way to grow up… and I have suffered. Beginning in college, I blew $3,000 that I’d earned working for my parents the summer before my freshman year, in one semester. Gone. Poof. I just figured there was more where that came from. Fast forward a little and before long I was 19 with 3 credit cards maxed out. Woof. I’ve been married for almost 6 years now and I’m still recovering from credit mistakes. I have been on a long, hard road of learning when it comes to money. I have an incredibly hard time with impulsive and compulsive spending… I’m coming to terms with it and through sound spiritual guidance, I am coming to a more virtuous place with regards to my finances, but I’m not there yet. It seems that He is constantly calling me to be more virtuous with the gifts that He has given me.

• How is God inviting you to practice virtue within your community?

The “community” that immediately comes to mind is my family. Perhaps this is so because I feel that God is calling me to practice virtue within my family. I’ve pretty much got the outside world under the impression that I am virtuous. And I would even say that I am virtuous to the rest of the world. My family sometimes takes a back seat to the rest of the world and in the end, gets the sloppy leftovers of my aggravation and anxiety. By the time I make it home to be with my family, I’m slap out of integrity and find myself critical and condescending. My patience is very limited and the rest of the world typically uses it up. I can feel God calling me to show my family a more virtuous wife and mother. Maybe if I succeed in “uncluttering” my life (and my house) I can get to a place of settled virtue… with God’s help.