Reveration Blog
10/20/2021 0 Comments Virtue Above Values
Character involves applying biblical values but the ability to do this comes through “the power of Christlike virtues.”[2] Values are simply not enough because everyone has values and not all values are equal. Even if leaders agree that a value is valid they may not carry it out. This is why virtues become so important. “Virtues . . . are moral excellencies and qualities of righteousness corresponding to the nature and character of God . . . virtues are morally correct.”[3]
Love, courage, wisdom, justice are examples of virtues. They transcend time and cultures, are not relative, are internal and comprise the moral fabric of people to do what is right even if unrewarded. Virtue comes from the Latin word virtus which means power. Essentially virtues are the “power of moral goodness” which enables people to achieve their values.[4] Meditation Proverbs 19:11--A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense. Notice that the value in the verse above is patience but it is the virtue of at least wisdom that allows the person to effectively apply that value when offended. Several virtues might come into play in this verse: courage to stand strong against adversity; love to cover over the offense. Without virtues, leaders become wishy-washy. They feel the voice of the crowd over the power of God’s Word. They bend with the wind of popularity and political correctness at the cost of upholding truth. Wise leaders identify godly virtues and then ask God for His strength to live them out. Inspiration Great necessities call out great virtues. When a mind is raised, and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those qualities which would otherwise lay dormant, wake into life and form the character of the hero and the statesman.—Abigail Adams ©2021 Daniel York ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause. If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. [1] Bredfeldt, G. (2006). Great leader great teacher: Recovering the biblical vision for leadership. Moody Publishers. pp. 89-93. [2]Ibid, p. 89 [3] Ibid. p. 91 [4] Ibid. p. 93
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
|
Photo from Rachel Maxey Miles