A few weeks ago, I wrote about how the Bible tells us to specifically clothe ourselves with certain virtues, qualities, and spiritual armor. It’s a great thing to put these on each day, both as protection and also as part of how we interact with others. However, the more I practice this, the more I realize that putting on a quality (for example, humility) isn’t enough. Those virtues can only be lived out in joy if they are surrendered and submitted to Christ.
Let me give an example. You decide to practice putting on humility (Colossians 3:12). It’s a good thing. But subjecting yourself to humility without that humility being submitted to Christ will only make you miserable. It’s really not fun to be humble without God in the humility.
I believe this is part of why we as Christians chafe under the burden of some virtues that are seen to be (and often are) good for a Christian to exhibit. We try in our own strength to put on (for example) the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). And we can even be pretty successful, especially with things like patience, kindness, and self-control. But there’s no joy in it. Putting them on for ourselves doesn’t fulfill us, and it’s just not fun. So we let them drop.
But when those same virtues and qualities are surrendered to God, there is a different outcome. We submit that humility in us to Christ, and instead of us having to sustain it and bear its burden, He makes it come alive. Humility becomes a joy when it’s submitted to Christ and we are abiding in Him.
We see this in the secular world. So many people are pursuing “love” and even desiring to live lives of “love” to the people around them. But without that love being submitted to God, it never fulfills them. Helping people, being loved by others – it can’t possibly be enough to bring the joy and peace that they desire.
So as you desire and even intentionally display Christian virtues, submit those qualities to Christ. You’ll find that it’s much more sustainable and also a whole lot more fun and full of joy.
