The 7 Heavenly Virtues were developed in the 6th century and were reestablished by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century. These were designed as a counterbalance to the Seven Deadly Sins. The 7 Heavenly Virtues provide hope. Both, the 7 Heavenly Virtues and the 7 Deadly Sins can be easily seen when comparing the fruit of the spirit against the works of the flesh. If you’re unfamiliar with the Seven Deadly Sins here is a brief article that provides a great introduction.
The 7 Heavenly Virtues from a financial perspective provide keen stewardship insight. Certain Biblical behaviors are rewarded and others are summarily punished. Savvy stewards shun the deadly sins and embrace the heavenly virtues.
What Are The 7 Heavenly Virtues?
The seven heavenly virtues are humility, generosity, chastity, patience, temperance, charity, and diligence. Each of these is the positive version of the seven deadly sins. Granted, some of these words are no longer used in everyday language.
Yet, all of these words, or their synonyms need to be understood as to how they impact our lives. All of these have a financial component as well.
Humility
Proverbs 22:4 (ESV) The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
Pride is the opposite of humility. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Humility often gets a bad rap. It’s a misunderstood virtue.
C.S. Lewis, the writer of The Chronicles of Narnia, once said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.”
Friend, you don’t have to have all of the answers. Life is complicated. Investing can be confusing. Buying stocks, bonds, mutual funds, crypto, rental properties, or other investments can be mind-numbing. God has the answers. Ask Him.
Generosity
2 Corinthians 8:1-2 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
Generosity is the antidote to greed in the context of the Seven Deadly Sins.
I believe that Christians want to be fearlessly generous. Sadly, many are not positioned to be fearlessly generous. Debilitating debt, empty savings accounts, and stagnant wages often hinder radical generosity.
If you are unable to give fearlessly then begin where you are. Generosity is a spiritual muscle that needs to be exercised. I’ve been so broke that my generosity was giving someone a shopping cart at Aldi. It was still generosity.
Acts 20:35 (ESV) In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Chastity
The best definition of chastity is for one to refrain from sexual intercourse that is regarded as contrary to morality.
Perhaps you’re wondering how chastity could help a person financially. Or maybe you don’t understand how chaste behavior applies to a society that is lewd and promiscuous.
Christians should never take their lead from secular society. Despite the oversexualized manner our society portrays we still get our behavioral marching orders from the Bible. Here’s an informative article about what the Bible Says About Sex.
Sexual immorality, any sex outside of marriage, is a heaven and hell issue.
Divorce, alimony, and child support are expensive.
Uncrucified lust wrecks marriages and crushes families. Sex is act designed by God to be enjoyed within the confines of marriage.
Hebrews 13:4 (NASB) Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
Patience
James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Patience is often misunderstood and misdefined.
Often people feel as though patience is simply having a great attitude while waiting in line at the DMV. Patience is much more than that. We all will have financial setbacks. Patience is the ability to stand strong and not quake when the financial storms of life hit with vengeance.
Temperance
Proverbs 23:21 (NKJV) For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.
Gluttony is one of those words that is rarely used by modern speakers. Perhaps it’s because most Americans are overweight.
The early church practiced temperance and shunned gluttony. Famine was a legitimate issue following the death and resurrection of Christ. Gluttonous people were frowned upon by the temperate. Why? Food was often scarce. If a person was obese it was obvious that they were using more than was needed for survival.
Gluttony was a visible sign of abuse by the wealthy. Food was excessively consumed and not shared.
Temperance in modern society is rare. Gluttony is commonplace.
Charity
Love never fails.
There are different ways love is expressed from a Biblical perspective.
Agape is unconditional, sacrificial love. This type of love is mentioned in I Corinthians 13 and in other verses as well.
There is love between spouses which is a physical love and sexual in nature. This is referred to in I Corinthians 7:5 and Hebrews 13:4.
Brotherly love, phileo, is affection towards family.
Properly aligned love keeps us upright. Motives remain pure. When others do well we’re not jealous or envious. We rejoice with them!
Diligence
God rewards diligence.
Proverbs 10:4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Poverty, similar to obesity, is often celebrated in society. Empathy is often misguided and as such reckless behaviors are applauded.
Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
God worked for six days and rested on the seventh day. In Exodus, we’re commanded to work six days. Many have whittled that down to five days and there is a movement to get it down to four days.
I will stick with God’s design. My “day job” requires five days and I work another full day in total on my writing and speaking craft. What about you? Are you producing and adding value outside of your nine-to-five gig?
Jesus worked so hard that He slept through a storm equivalent to a hurricane.
Let’s take our cues from God the Father and God the Son when it comes to our work ethic.
The 7 Heavenly Virtues
How will you put humility, generosity, chastity, patience, temperance, charity, and diligence to work in your finances? Is there one that could use more attention in your life?