Scriptorium Daily
The medieval author Richard of St. Victor wrote, “The duty of the true preacher consists of two things; instruction in truth and exhortation to virtue” (The Mystical Ark, Appendix). In this post I hope to do the latter by continuing my musings on the vices and the virtues. Please recall that a virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do good; specifically, to pursue good and to choose it in all concrete actions. The goal of the virtuous life is to become like God. A vice is the opposite of a virtue: doing what is bad instead of what is good, pursuing that which is against good and choosing to do it. The result of a vice is alienation from God. The virtues are those characteristics of a godly life that we must highly desire and greatly esteem.
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Finally, the results of envy are something that we should not desire. Proverbs 14:30 tells us that “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Further, Job 5:2 says, “Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.” In light of this, what should be our response? Simply put, we need to obey the tenth commandment: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17). By not coveting we do not give in to the vice of envy for “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Also, we need to counter the vice of envy with the virtue of temperance.
Temperance is the virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the appetites of the flesh toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion. As one ancient writer said, “Do not yield to every impulse you can gratify or follow the desires of your heart” (Ecclesiasticus 5:2) and “Do not let your passions be your guide, but restrain your desires” (18:30). In the New Testament, temperance is often called “moderation” or “sobriety.” For example, in his letter to Titus, Paul commands us “to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world” (2:12). Likewise, 1 Corinthians 15:34a says, “Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning” and 2 Timothy 4:5a says, “But you, be sober in all things.”
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Recorded here is the account of the queen of Sheba’s visit to Solomon after hearing of the magnificence of the temple that Solomon had constructed. The queen was so amazed at what she saw that “she was overwhelmed” (v. 5). It is obvious from this passage that the queen herself was a very wealthy monarch. Yet, she was overwhelmed at Solomon’s temple. Surely, her temptation could have been to desire to have such a temple for herself. Or, out of desire, to attack the Israelite’s and make the temple her own property. Interestingly, she chose neither of these envious actions. Rather, she praised the Lord (v. 9) and “she left and returned with her retinue to her own country” (v. 13). You see, the queen of Sheba rejoiced with Solomon for the Lord’s blessing upon him and the nation of Israel. She did not become envious, she became expressively joyful. This is the attitude that we are to have when others are blessed by God. Instead of envying those whom God chooses to bless, we must rejoice with them. This demonstrates that we are temperate persons who are not giving in to the vice of envy. (more)
