Six Essential Virtues for Life – #1 Whatever Is True!
By Rob Fields
A number of years ago the Douglas Aircraft company was competing with Boeing to sell Eastern Airlines its first big jets. War hero Eddie Rickenbacker, the head of Eastern Airlines, reportedly told Donald Douglas that the specifications and claims made by Douglas’s company for the DC-8 were close to Boeing’s on everything except noise suppression. Rickenbacker then gave Douglas one last chance to out-promise Boeing on this feature. After consulting with his engineers, Douglas reported that he didn’t feel he could make that promise. Rickenbacker replied, “I know you can’t, I just wanted to see if you were still honest.”
What if we highlighted the virtues that make character? Let’s feature these qualities in our media and social feeds. Imagine the headliner for today’s news – Honesty surrounds the Boeing Corporation.
To many times we hear of the negative and wrong behaviors. We go to accepting, propagating, and modeling actions that are the vices rather than the Virtues. Character is back because we now have solid evidence about just how important it is to our chances of success in life – states an article in the BBC.
One of the best quotes on character comes from Frank Outlaw, American Businessman and who established Bi-Lo once said,
Watch your thoughts: They become your words.
Watch your words: They become your actions.
Watch your actions: They become your habits.
Watch your habits: They become your character.
Watch your character: It becomes your destiny.
Let’s take a closer look at a passage that becomes the building blocks of character and true virtue.
“Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:1-9)
Did you realize that the book of Philippians is set up in such a way to provide us with some tools for living the Christian Life? Similar to the Philippians we have entered into a new life that has many uncertainties and questions. This letter to the Philippians provides us with encouragement, examples, exhortations, and enablement for living the Christian Life. We are encouraged by Paul’s encouragement, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
Paul’s first Contact with the church at Philippi was through Lydia who sold clothing and had an open heart towards the message he shared (Acts 16:11-16). Paul’s team was thrown into prison and charged of throwing the city into an uproar (Acts 16). Listen to his exhortation in this moment, “Do not be anxious about anything.”
Paul writes this letter to address some of the problems in their church. Apparently rivalry and personal gain were among some of the saints. He will address his current situation and plans for the future, if by God’s mercy he was released from imprisonment. What carries onward are these words, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
This is the backdrop for Paul sharing the first of six essential virtues for life.
Whatever is true, – Philippians 4:8
The Pennsylvania State Capitol is a magnificent palace of faith and government complimenting each other. Walking through the hallways you will see numerous images of William Penn’s idea of this “holy experiment.” In the House of Representatives you will find the words of Jesus in the ceiling facing the Speaker’s Chair, “then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Jesus is teaching to those who have accepted Him and shares this point to Jewish believers. “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The word truth ἀληθής (alēthēs) means ‘what really is’ or ‘what is so’ or ‘what has happened.’ Truth is “trustworthy, reliable, real, or genuine.”
What are some general points about truth from the Gospels and Jesus teachings? Jesus is full of truth (cf. John 1:14). “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. “ Jesus speaks what is true (cf. Luke 9:23). Truth brings freedom (cf. John 8:32). Word is truth (cf. John 17:17).
Jesus shares about Truth following the Passover Meal in John 14:5-7. Jesus and His disciples are on the way to the Mt Olives and Gethsemane. The disciples have a number of questions as Jesus is sharing about His leaving. Thomas asks this of Jesus. Lord we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way? Christ answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” I and I alone am the Way. I and I alone am the Truth. I and I alone am the Light.
Jesus is the very essence, embodiment, and example of truth. God, the Spirit, and the Son in this triune nature are true. Truth in God is extended to those who follow Jesus. When you live in Jesus, you live a life in truth.
Paul’s point about thinking about truth is the continual reflection and indulgence upon the Person and Being of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus is the very essence, embodiment, and example of truth. You want to know truth, know JESUS. You want to know what is true, come to JESUS. You want to be truthful, follow JESUS.
Politicians seemingly bring out those who are disagreeable. Once, when a stubborn disputer seemed unconvinced, Lincoln said, “Well, let’s see how many legs has a cow?” “Four, of course,” came the reply disgustedly. “That’s right,” agreed Lincoln. “Now suppose you call the cow’s tail a leg; how many legs would the cow have?” “Why, five, of course,” was the confident reply. “Now, that’s where you’re wrong,” said Lincoln. “Calling a cow’s tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.”
When you live in Jesus, you live a life in truth. Truth is not a set of ideas nor abstract BUT the Person of Jesus the Son of God. Come to Jesus and Follow Him, you are in Truth. We are to continually and often think upon Jesus – Whatever is TRUE!