Baptist City Blog

What Makes You Virtuous?

Proverbs 31:10

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."

God asks in the verse above, "Who can find a virtuous woman?" I would like to further this question by asking, who can find a virtuous person? When you look at the word "virtuous", you will probably come up with many different definitions, but the Scriptures go on to describe what the word means. In the verses that follow, God described the "virtuous woman." The description that God gives of the "virtuous woman" is its true definition. Though I could spend several pages talking about each virtue, I believe you can narrow down these virtues into a few categories that make a"virtuous woman." Yet, let me make this clear, as much as we need virtuous women, we also need men of virtue.  If the woman is to be virtuous, then the men ought to lead in each of these categories.  

First, a virtuous person is one who is a hard worker.  Throughout Proverbs 31, you find that this woman worked hard.  She rose early in the morning to be sure that she could get her work accomplished.  You will never become a virtuous person by always getting a full nights rest. I know this isn't popular, but work must be accomplished. When I say hard work, I also mean that you don't avoid tasks that are difficult.  Work is not always going to be easy. Work is not always going to be something that you want to do. A virtuous person will work hard no matter what time they must get up and no matter how difficult the task.  

Second, a virtuous person is trustworthy.  In verse 11, the Scriptures talk about her husband trusting in her. A virtuous person is not one who lies.  Dishonesty is not a virtue! You can sugar coat your lies to appease your conscience, but a lie is still a lie! Virtuous people don't lie to get out of responsibilities.  Virtuous people tell the truth all the time, even if the truth inconveniences them. 

Third, a virtuous person is one who takes care of personal responsibilities.  Throughout Proverbs 31, this woman made sure her responsibilities were taken care of.  When you shirk your responsibilities, you are shirking virtue.  Responsibility is not always going to be convenient, but it must be taken care of.  If you want to become a virtuous person, then you need to become a person who makes sure that all of your responsibilities are taken care of; no excuses given.  

Last, a virtuous person is a prepared person. This woman was not afraid to face life because she was prepared for life.  She was prepared because of her hard work to take care of her responsibilities.  Life will happen for everyone, and the only way you will be prepared for life is by taking time to prepare.  You can't wait and be a person who constantly lives in crisis mode and be a virtuous person. Virtuous people plan ahead for every situation, so whenever a situation happens they are not caught off guard.  

Are you a virtuous person? If God asked, "Who can find a virtuous person," could He look at you and see one? Yes, we need virtuous women, but we also need people in general who are virtuous.  Be the type of individual that when God and society look for a virtuous person, they find one in you.