Proud To Be Virtuous

By T. M. Moore

The less we are filled with pride, the more we advance in virtue, for this more than anything else is virtue, to hold ourselves in check. Just as the sharper our sight is, the more fully do we realize how far we are from the sky, so the more we advance in virtue, so much more do we learn the difference between God and ourselves. This is no small part of wisdom, to be able to know our own worth; for he knows himself best who accounts himself to be nothing. - John Chrysostom on Isaiah 14:13

Jesus told a parable about a righteous man who knew he was righteous, and so turned out to be not righteous at all (Lk. 18:9-14). The Pharisee was proud of his “virtue”, and boasted of it before the Lord as he compared himself favorably with a tax collector.

We recognize such “righteousness” as “self-righteousness”, and we agree with Jesus that there is no true virtue in such self-vaunting.

But in a day when so much immorality is to be seen on every hand, we can easily fall to thinking we’re somehow “better” than others who aren’t as “righteous” or as “virtuous” as we.

The remedy for this, Chrysostom explained, is to look to Jesus and not to the people around us. Compared with Jesus, we have a long way to go, and nothing about which to boast. Indeed, even the virtue we are able to demonstrate is not our own; it comes from and by our Lord Jesus, as He lives His life through us in the power of His Spirit.

We should, of course, strive every day to increase in virtue, studying God’s Word to discover new ways that we may increase in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. But we must at the same time study humility, trust, and self-denial. Otherwise we may end up prideful about our “virtuous” attainments, forgetting that any progress we make in becoming upright in virtue is only the work of God within us, willing and doing of His good pleasure (Phil. 2:12, 13).

How can we “hold ourselves in check” in this matter? First, by giving thanks to God for His work of sanctification within us. He alone must receive honor and praise for any good or any virtue which is seen in us. God makes us fruitful for virtuous living; we have no ability to do this of our own.

Second, rather than look down on others whose lives fall short of God’s virtuous standards, let us pray for them, try to get to know them, and show them the love of Christ in every way we can. Of course we will observe areas of others’ live that we know to be displeasing to the Lord. But we must judge with righteous judgment, and that does not include condemning others (Jn. 7:24; Matt. 7:1).

Finally, always remember that we will have barely begun to become truly virtuous even after many years of striving and growth. The standard set by our Lord Jesus Christ will always be far beyond our reach in this life. Only in the life to come, when we see Jesus as He is, will we truly be like Him (1 Jn. 3:2). This being so, let us, rather than rest on our laurels and become content in our attainments, press on to become more like Jesus everyday of our lives (1 Jn. 3:3).

Grow in virtue, beloved, but don’t let pride or self-vaunting spoil your attainments. Virtue with humility: this is the goal we seek.

For more by T.M. Moore, please visit Breakpoint.org.