Virtues Diligence

The moral virtues, then, are produced in us neither by nature nor against nature. Nature, indeed, prepares in us the ground for their reception, but their complete formation is the product of habit.

Aristotle (BC 384-322, Greek philosopher)

2 Peter 1:5-9
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. NASU


Jean Rousseau, an old Swiss political philosopher, said this of Virtue, “Virtue is a state of war, and to live in it, we have always to do combat with ourselves.” Now I don’t want to upset anyone’s applecart, but I agree with Rousseau, and no matter your last name, you will always be drawn to baseness, or the human’s natural bend to sin.

Another secret to virtue is found in diligence, what kind of diligence, diligence to your faith, which will supply you with moral excellence. Another word for diligence is habit, which is an involuntary reaction, and moral excellence should be what we do automatically. Moral excellence is the foundation of virtue, and it comes with many extras. It comes with knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.

How dedicated or virtuous should the Christian be? Listen to Paul in Eph 5:3, “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.” What I take from this is that you and I are to be above even the suggestion of immorality. The habit of our lives should be so trained by the Word of God, and diligence to the Body of Christ that even the suggestion of sin could not attach itself to us in any way…God Bless

Pastor William