Add to your faith

I am convinced that Peter’s second epistle, first chapter, was written as a systematic character development study guide.  Here is what he said:

 

“Being diligent, add to you faith, virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge self control, and to self control perseverance, and to perseverance godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.  For if these qualities are in you and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.  Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”

 

So often in the west, we focus on academic preparation.  But Peter teaches us otherwise.  Virtue always precedes knowledge.  Virtue, or moral excellence, or character development is the foundation on which all knowledge rests.  As I state in my lectures, when moral excellence increases, fear decreases; when fear decreases, faith and a willingness to risk increase, thus building maturity, self confidence, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love for others. 

I find it noteworthy that Peter begins with the word “diligent.”  In the Greek this term refers to a resolute choice to go in a different direction.  Once this choice occurs, the next word “add” becomes the first step in the process of genuine character development, which Peter refers to in the Greek as “adding at one’s own expense.” Without sacrifice, growth cannot occur.  King David understood this well in 2nd Samuel 24:24 when he said, “I will not give to the Lord that which cost me nothing.”   His son Solomon learned this lesson as well as he leaves us this challenge in Proverbs 22:29, “Show me a man diligent in his work and he will stand before kings and not before mean men.”  Diligence and sacrifice, births knowledge into wisdom, especially when joined with reverence for God and his goodness toward us.