Virtues are qualities of moral excellence. Having virtue enables a good character and a good personality. Contrary to misconceptions held by several people, virtue doesn’t inhibit us. Rather the more we have and live out the virtues, the deeper and better our relationships with others will be. Virtues like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience vastly enhances our relationships and team work with our spouses, children, friends, colleagues, neighbours and people we relate with daily. But virtue is oftentimes misconstrued as a weakness. BETTY AMUKPO seeks the views of some children. Excerpts:
‘Being virtuous is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of uprightness’
Virtue is never a weakness because those who are of the Lord must carry out God’s Purpose with clear and sincere minds for God likes the good doers. Also, Proverbs 11:3 states, “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.” From the quoted Biblical verse, we can understand how God gives virtue a better description of guidance which tells us that being virtuous is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of being upright.
• Eyinade Gideon
‘Virtue is weakness when you hold grudges and never accept apologies’
There are three theological virtues that do not arise with Humans, but are given to us by Christ from God. They are Faith, Hope and Love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 says “The greatest of these is love”. That means love is the root of all virtues.
• Umennadi Francis
‘Virtue is behavior showing high moral standard’
By definition, weakness is not a standard of strength or morality, so there is absolutely no virtue which can be found there. The solution, according to Paul, is we clothe ourselves with virtue. In doing so, we imitate our redeemer, who displayed “Perfect Patience” in extending the merciful cure of the gospel to us (1 Timothy1:16), and we honour the one “who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16). Love is the root of all virtues.
Popular Bible verses about virtue include:
• Philippians 4:8
• 2 Peter 1:3
• Matthew 5:48
• Hebrews 10:19
• 2 Peter 1:5
• Revelation 20:6
• 1 Corinthians 15:22
• Sandra Ojimadu
‘In the true sense of the word there is no weakness in being morally upright’
Virtue has to do with being morally upright in conducts and deeds. When we are talking about virtue, we are speaking of growing in our thoughts and actions that connects us to and with God’s grace and mercies. In Philippians 4:8, it is written that virtue refers to conforming one’s life and actions to pure and righteous life practices produced through obedience to God’s words. In the true sense of the word, there is no weakness in being morally upright to be in tune with God, body and soul. It now boils down to what we human consider as boundaries to life. There is a case of taking virtue too far. One could be courageous, but courage taken too far can become stupidity. Or, one can be gentle, but being gentle that one is afraid to make hard decisions that may make others uncomfortable. Thus, any virtue taken to an extreme may become a vice.
• Victoria Okefe
‘Being a virtuous person doesn’t make one weak, rather it portrays strength’
No, virtue is not weakness! Virtue is a behaviour showing high moral standard and weakness is a state or condition of lacking strength. By implication, weakness is not a standard of morality, so there’s absolutely no virtue which can be found there. Having virtues or being a virtuous person doesn’t make one weak, rather it portrays strength in the sense that through the grace of God, one has been able to conquer all weaknesses which are the vices that make us enemies of God. (2 Corinthians 12:9) Let’s take encouragement from Philippians 4:8, “Be virtuous!”
• Abigail Anthony
‘Virtues teach us that we must think, act, and speak based on moral principles’
Virtue is not a weakness, virtues teach us that we must think, act, and speak based on moral principles not based on how society or media tells us. 2 peter 1:5 encourages us to supplement faith with virtue and virtue with the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. In 2 Corinthians:12, Paul said God’s grace is sufficient for him and it gives him power to make up for his weakness. Ephesians 4:2 tells us to be humble, gentle, patient and show love by being tolerant with one another.
• Kelechi Nnadikwe
‘In Christianity, the concept of “virtue weakness” is often associated with the idea of humility’
Virtue is the behaviour of showing high moral standards. In the Catholic Church virtue means excellent (2 Peter 1:5 or Philippians 4:8). Secondly, it refers to the remarkable and miraculous power of God (Mark 5:30 or Luke 6:19). Also in the Catholic Church virtues are special graces given by God to the soul for the accomplishment of a particular objective. Weakness is not having enough physical or spiritual strength to do things. The opposite of virtue is vice. No, virtue is not weakness; they are positive morals that are valuable in the society, such as honesty, courage, compassion, etc. In Christianity, the concept of “virtue weakness” is often associated with the idea of humility. Humility is a virtue that involves recognising one’s own limitations and weaknesses that all good things come from God. According to the Bible, humility is a characteristic that is highly valued by God. One passage that speaks to the importance of humility can be found in the book of James, which says: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10). Another passage that speaks to the relationship between virtue and weakness can be found in 2 Corinthians, where the Apostle Paul writes: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Overall, the concept of virtue weakness in Christianity emphasises the importance of humility and recognising our dependence on God.
• Anyasor Chibuike
‘Virtue is not a flaw, but a quality that enhances one’s character and happiness’
Virtue is not weakness, but strength. Virtue is the ability to act according to one’s moral principles, even when faced with temptation, difficulty, or danger. Virtue requires courage, self-control, and wisdom. Virtue is not a flaw, but a quality that enhances one’s character and happiness. No wonder the Bible in 2 Peter 1:5-8 admonishes us as follows: “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue knowledge and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Therefore, virtue is not weakness but strength.
• Blossom Akalezi
