Vice or Virtue?

But when you follow your own wrong inclinations, your lives will produce these evil results: impure thoughts…hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group…anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 (TLB)

A vice, according to Miriam Webster, is an act of self-indulgence. It’s an action that demonstrates that we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to and seek to serve our own pleasures. It’s something that most of us have and acknowledge as a ‘bad habit’ yet one that cannot be given up. You might have heard someone say, “Oh, I know smoking is bad for my health…but I just can’t quit.” Just last weekend I heard someone say, “I know that I’m a controlling person…it’s just the way that I am…I can’t change it.”

A virtue, on the other hand, is moral excellence; right action and thinking. The attitudes that contribute to self-indulgent living are often learned at a very young age when our parents serve our every need and desire. And they are reinforced as we grow up, especially in the modern world where the media floods us with false images of success and tells us that happiness comes from getting what we want. It is difficult to combat this mindset, but the Bible tells us in Galatians 5:22-23, when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… (TLB) Virtuous living does not result from discipline and trying really hard, but from trusting God and relying on His Holy Spirit to guide your daily life. Those who say, “I just can’t quit,” or “I can’t change it,” are right in one respect. When they focus on themselves, they are helpless to change. But when they focus on God, and allow the Holy Spirit to direct them, they will conquer their vices…because nothing is impossible with God, not even change.

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Worthy of the Calling

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1

As the Apostles traveled on their missionary journeys, their intentions and their sincerity were often questioned…by both believers and unbelievers. Time and again, they demonstrated that their motives were pure by the exemplary lives that they lived.

Many times in the New Testament, we find teaching from the Apostles on the importance of living an upright life. Paul writes to the church in Corinth, We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. (2 Corinthians 6:3) Peter urges the followers, as aliens and strangers in the world…abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Peter 2:12) The writer of Hebrews says, …We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. (Hebrews 13:18)

The Christians in the Macedonian church made consecrating themselves to the Lord their first priority, and then followed their heart preparation with serving as He determined (2 Corinthians 8:5). First Thessalonians 2:4 says, … we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. The Apostles never sought personal profit or recognition for their deeds. They knew that their message was God’s message, not their own. They didn’t seek to please people. They never tricked or enticed people with false pretense and they never covered up their true natures with phony veneers. They didn’t have to. As they served God out of a pure heart, they pleased God and as a result, it was God who was praised.

As we commit ourselves—our hearts, souls, minds and strength—to the Lord first, we will develop pure hearts. Then serving Him in keeping with his will, we will become men approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel. Ultimately, as we demonstrate pure motives by our exemplary lives, not for the eyes of men, but for God alone, He will be glorified.

© 2009 by Stephanie French