Virtues for Success

Well the New Year is into full swing. Don’t quit those New Year’s resolutions. We really can hang in there and accomplish our goals this year.

But, as we focus on life changes in the new year, things like loosing weight, getting in shape, finishing school, remodeling that room or getting that promotion at work - let’s not forget the interior things that help us accomplish those exterior things.

All of us want to have effective and productive lives - no one wants to get to the end of the year, let alone the end of our lives and feel that we were ineffective and unproductive.

The Bible really does give us good advice in this area and I want to share that advice with you.

It’s found in 2nd Peter 1: 3 - 11 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is short-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Bible teaches us that we can participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of this world caused by evil desires. That promise can be obtained by developing 7 specific virtues to add to our saving faith in Jesus Christ.

This is the internal growth that is so essential in helping us reach our goals and dreams.

Most of what stops us from accomplishment is a lack of goods on the inside, not the lack of opportunities on the outside.

Verse 5 tells us to “make every effort” to develop these seven virtues in our lives. Here they are - goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.

Now, take note of the incredible promises that follow the continual development and increase of these virtues.

1) You’ll be kept from being ineffective and unfruitful in your knowledge of Jesus. 2) You will NEVER fall. 3) You will receive a RICH welcome into the Eternal Kingdom of Jesus.

I believe these promises merit our efforts towards developing the virtues of real and lasting success.

Now remember, don’t forget that you are adding these to your faith. In other words, these virtues are to build upon our eternal, life changing faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Let’s commit our lives to Him and “make every effort” to add these 7 virtues for a prosperous and successful new year and a prosperous and successful life now and into eternity.