Virtue Expected
May 2, 2010
It seems that in our day anything goes. There are few restrictions and few expectations. When a person becomes a Christian, that person not only enters a new life, but also enters a new expectation. Yet how often in our “anything goes” culture has this bled over into the Church where the majority of people (or so it seems) believe that there is a boundary-less latitude in how one lives and behaves as a Christian. Even in the world of sports there are certain boundaries and expectations on behavior. Imagine McNabb showing up at an Eagles practice wearing a Redskins jersey. Or even worse imagine me wearing a Cleveland Browns jersey to an Eagles game! There is a certain expectation of behavior put upon those who claim some form of identity with a group of people. Michael Vick found out and now Ben Rothlisberger is finding out about this NFL good conduct expectation.
In his letter to the Christians at Ephesus in ancient Greece, Paul sets forth some behavior expectations for these followers of Jesus. In verse 1 He calls it a “life worthy of the calling.” He then goes on to describe these virtues of a worthy life by using 3 descriptive verbs: be humble, be gentle, be patient.
The first virtue of a Christian is being humble. Humility is not something you receive it is something you decide to do. I found it interesting to learn that the Greek word used here for being humble is decidedly Christian in nature. All the Greek words for humility have meanness attached to them. For the ancient Greek being humble was akin to cowering, servant-like, being afraid, of no repute, ignoble, and cringing. Humility for the Greeks was a bad thing, yet for Jesus and for Christians being humble is at the forefront of Christian virtue.
Being humble is the opposite of being prideful. It means you realize that you are not all that. Humility is not the same as self-abasement or low self-esteem. Humility is the confidence that you have in a God who loves you and a Savior who creates in you a new life. Humility is knowing your brokenness and sinfulness while at the same time knowing the confidence that you have as a new creation in Christ.
The second virtue for the Christian is gentleness. Some translate it as meekness and many equate this with weakness. But again gentleness is opposite of weakness. In the Greek this word means the right balance in life. This is the person who knows when to get angry and when not to get angry, i.e. this person gets angry at the wrong done to others but never gets angry and wrongs done to him/her. The gentle Christian always gets angry at the right time and never at the wrong time.
This Greek word also carries with it the idea of an animal that is fully trained and self-controlled. Not long ago the Winslow police came to our church to demonstrate to the kids how police dogs work with their handlers. It was amazing how that dog responded to any command. What was even more amazing was the self-control of that dog that no matter what happened, that dog did not move until the police officer gave the command.
The person then who is gentle and meek is the one whose passions, instincts, and inclinations are entirely and completely under control. We all know that that cannot happen apart from God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit living within us.
The 3rd virtue is patience or long-suffering. This is the quality of a person who never gives up, who endures to the end knowing that at the end there will be reward and blessing. This is the Christian who will never be deterred by any suffering or tragedy, by any task given them, by any discouragement, disappointment or disagreement and will persevere to the very end. This word is especially used when it comes to people and relationships, ie it is used in the arena of being patient with one another. This is the person who has the power to avenge, to retaliate, and to get even but doesn’t do so. It is the spirit that bears insult and injury, puts up with unpleasant people, endures peoples’ inane foolishness without irritation or complaint and does so with grace.
Why is it that we are long-suffering and patient with one another? It is because of our love for them. It very well may be that these early Christians were not doing this very well and that is why Paul had to write these words. Let’s look again at it: “be patient, bearing with one another in love.” We could also read this as “put up with one another in love.” It is because of God’s love for us in Christ that He puts up with us. Because of God’s love in us we put up with each other, are gracious to one another, and overlook one another’s faults. And that can only be done by the power of the Holy Spirit living within us.
How’s your virtue level? If you claim the name of Jesus, then we are to act like Jesus by being humble, gentle, and patient with one another.