What is virtue and what helps promote a virtuous life Essay

What is virtue and what helps promote a virtuous life - Essay Example When principled love is exercised, there is no law that is against love, it encompasses all goodness and virtues. The Apostle Paul described principled love with the following words in the Holy Scriptures at 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 which says: Love is long-suffering and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, and does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Long-suffering or patience no doubt is a virtue worth emulating. Economic hardship and the daily stress of life can easily make one impatient and loose self-control causing tensions in relationships within the family, in workplaces, and in the community. But with the exercise of love, one is willing to suffer the tensions, weaknesses, and show kindness despite unfavora ble circumstances. There is humility in love. A truly humble person is not contentious and does not seek to compete to gain favor, honor, and praise from onlookers. One does not step on the rights of others just to be on the pedestal but recognizes personal limitations. In this highly competitive world, exercising true humility is a real challenge but with love, pride is conquered. Love is willing to forgive trespasses, conscious of the fact that every now and then humans err as a result of sinful tendencies. Love readily forgives and without harboring pain and revenge. This is a virtue that fosters peace and harmonious relationship. Love is truthful, faithful, loyal and prudent. When there is principled love, there is no deception, infidelity, and indecency. Love works for what is good towards all and is willing to suffer pain and inconvenience to allow some degree of comfort and joy to those who are in greater distress. God is love (1 John 4:8). Because love is the personification of God, and God is all goodness, then love encompasses all goodness. It is the source of all virtues. In an imperfect world, it is not always easy to exercise love and to live a virtuous life. Aside from imperfection, there is the pressure of everyday living and the influence of the people around. It is during trials that a virtue is magnified. In times of dire need, and extreme poverty it is a challenge to exercise love of neighbor through honesty. It requires strength and courage to return a wallet full of money when one badly needs money to buy food for the family or buy medicines for a sick loved one. Likewise it is extremely challenging to endure injustice when the suffering has become unbearable to the point of death. It is challenge to live a virtuous life when most of the people are no longer virtuous and yet they are living better lives and enjoying unreasonable profit of corruption and greed. Furthermore it is a real challenge to live a virtuous life, when one is raised i n a family whose culture is far from being virtuous. Love must be more overwhelming to conquer these challenges and live the excelling way of living a virtuous life. Elements in Society that Promotes a Virtuous Life To learn the ways of love is to learn the virtues to live. Love as the embodiment of virtues must be inculcated in the heart and mind right