Purposeful and Meaningful: Virtue

Virtue has a long list definitions all bordering on the Christian attributes that radiate goodness, praise-worthy, excellence, well doing etc. In very many texts, it is moral excellence.

Your character as a believer should be one of high standards, praise worthy and a good example. Virtue is in itself complex and has in it a set of other qualities embedded together.

A classical example is the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31.

Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

This woman is without doubt not easy to find and when you do you will see how precious she is. She such a graceful person, hardworking, keeps her home. She is filled with strength honor and wisdom. This woman is filled with some much grace and quality that her children her husband blesses her.

She is an excellent woman.

Proverbs 31:25-31 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Add to your faith in God, virtue. Be a person people can easily spot out as been virtuous. It is a long list we all should try by the help of the Holy Spirit to be filled with virtue.

Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

A woman of virtue is a crown to her husband. She is a person who makes her husband glad and blessed. A prudent wife is from the Lord. It means it takes God to make a woman virtuous.

Proverbs 19:14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

A virtuous woman is a wise woman who builds her home.

A godly home requires building continually, so in her wisdom she seeks ways to make her home what God wants it to be. She is not slothful or lazy. She is kind, busy with good works and over sees the affairs of her home. She does not rule over her husband but with her submission and dedication she does well to him all the days of her life.

Ruth in the bible was an exceptional woman. How many women would care for their widowed mother-in-laws after their own husbands were dead? Many will go off and remarry especially in this generation where mother-in-laws are considered as monster-in-laws. How terrible!!

Ruth 3:10-11 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

Like the woman of Shunem, the bible referred to her as a great woman. She was so compassionate that she not only gave food to the Prophet Elisha but also convinced her husband to make a little chamber for him. She perceived he was a man of God. She indeed was no ordinary woman; she was a woman of substance.

2Kings 4:8-10 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.

A virtuous woman identifies and meets a need. She ministered to the man of God and provoked divine remembrance. The man of God gave her an open cheque to fill in what she desired. A great need was met- the gift of a male child.

2Kings 4:14-17 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

In summary, Virtue is a high price required for us to be fruitful in the knowledge of God. In whatever we do or think there must be virtue i.e. must be admirable.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Virtue

Add to your faith virtue…….