Eudiamonism: Virtues & Vices

Eudaimonia (εὐδαιμονία) is a greek word commonly translated as happiness or welfare; however, "human flourishing" has been propsed as a more accurate translation. Etymologically, it consists of the words "eu" (good) and "daimon" (spirit). It is a central concept in Aristotelian ethics and political philosophy, along with the terms "arete", most often translated as "virtue" or "excellence", and "phronesis", often translated as "practical or ethical wisdom". In Aristotle's works, eudaimonia was used as the term for the highest human good, and so it is the aim of practical philosophy, including ethics, to consider and to also experience what it really is, and how it can be achieved.


Do you want happiness? Do you want to experience the fruits of the spirit in your life? Do you want to grow in ma-churity? Do you want to be better? and live a higher quality of life? I want to be better. I want to live a better life. I want transformation. Reflecting on virtues and maturity has given me a better perspective of who I want to be. This process of change requires vision, intention and the means. I believe our gracious Father gladly gives us the things we ask for according to his will. The problem is that we don't ask.


Eudiamonism is something i've been thinking about lately. It's a fancy word for describing Christian ethics and morals. When you really think about it, i think it blows your mind. It involves growing in our character. Living out virtues is closely linked to happiness. There's actually experts that study what happiness is. They all agree that self seeking pleasure does not lead to true happiness. In Matt. 5 Jesus says, "blessed are those poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom.. blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled."


 Happiness has something to do with acknowledging that we are "needy" in spirit, and need God to fill us. The word used for the highest moral values in scriptchur is "righteousness." 2 Cor. 5 says,  "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." God is the one who makes us righteous and happy/joyful, and we can be righteous in his sight because of the work of Christ.


Eudiamonism is about cultivating virtues. What does it look like to be virtuous? In a book called "Being Good: Christian Virtues for Everyday Life" they separate virtues under 3 categories, Faith, Hope, and Love. I had a professor argue that every and any activity can provide an underlying virtue.Virtues aren't limited to the fruits of the spirit. Even playing a video game can develop the virtue of play and recreation, which is definitely a necessary virtue imo. There's a long list of virtues i looked up, some that stand out to me are..

Contentment, Joy, Patience, Perseverance, Honesty, Humility, Friendliness, Self-Respect, Forgiveness, Compassion, Consideration, Purposefulness, Devotion, Reverence, Balance, Availability, Enthusiasm, Obedience, Mercy, Kindness, Grace, Purity, Creativity, Moderation, Discipline, Gratitude, Faithfulness, Discernment, Humor, Independence, Integrity, Dependability, Service, Peacefulness, Silence, Understanding, Thoughtfulness, Sincerity, Simplicity, Zeal. There's a lot more, if u wanna look em up.


If i were to narrow down my list to focus on just a few, i think it'd be.. Contentment, Patience, Enthusiasm, Discipline, Faithfulness, Zeal and Gratitude. LoL I still chose a lot. If I were to narrow my choices further it'd hafta be the virtue of Gratitude. I mean it is Thanksgiving this month right? lol. But cerealously. We take so much for granted. I take so much for granted. Im a pessimist who looks at the bad, and doesn't acknowledge the good. When i list the things i'm thankful for, my negative moods disappear, because we're able to see how blessed we really are, and how good God really is. Do you see how our virtues are so closely connected to our happiness?

 If I could pick another virtue to practice growing in, it would probably be Contentment. You might say that i've been very discontent with myself and my circumstances. I regret my mistakes and opportunities in the past and I have a very hard time losing friends. In the past year i learned that when i'm discontent I seek people or things to try and fill my happiness tank. But God is saying, "Can you be content without needing anything but me?" Can you be content even if all your needs, ideals, and expectations aren't met? When you're satisfied in God, you really don't need anything else.

 Interestingly my professor distinguishes contentment from being satisfied, by saying that you can be content and peacefully happy even if you're not completely satisfied. I don't think i fully understand it all.. The chris i want to be is grateful and content. These are the 2 virtues I'd like to focus on practicing. I think everyone would want to grow in virtues right? So then the question is "How do we grow in these virtues?" 
....

How can we be more loving for example? Scholars, teachers, pastors note that we need to look to someone we see that displays and lives out those virtues we would like to acquire. We are to mimic and do activities that develop a specific virtue. For instance, waiting in the longer line to develop and cultivate a character of patience. Or serving someone before yourself can foster humility.

The study of the life of Christ is important because God perfectly manifests all those virtues and qualities. I would even say that God defines love. God's love is seen through the life of Christ. God humbled himself in the form of a man and we are given the example of how we are to treat others. Jesus didn't reflect God's glory, he is God's glory and worth of all praise. And through his death, the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to become more like him. Sanctification is becoming more Christ-like. 


So here's where I think the key is. Do you want to be happy? Want to grow maturity, and practicing living out these virtues? Ya! But how?? We look to someone we admire who displays them. Okay.. now what? Here it is. Transformation, spiritual formation and change happen through Relationship. We become like those we hangout with, and the friends we spend time with. Relationships change us. So, the conclusion logically follows that if we spend more time with Jesus, we will become more like Him. Quality intimate time with God, develops through Quantity time. 

What virtues do you want to invest in? Who do you want to be?

Maturity
What is maturity? Maturity hasta do with the order of goods. For instance, the highest good, or supreme good is God. If we prioritize anything above that, we create an idol, which would demonstrate immaturity. Maturity is where we develop our sense of meaning. What is most valuable, what's the greatest good we could apply ourselves in. For instance, it would be immature to neglect all my responsibilities, treat others badly, and waste how i spend my life. Maturity is ordering goods and investing into them properly. Investing into friendships, family and God are important because they hold a higher good. Where we find meaning and value reflects our maturity. 

Rest in God

I'm not quite sure how or when devotions became a chore. It's not supposed to be like that. Perhaps cuz we're impatient. Shouldn't we be full of joy in finding communion with our living God? I wonder why our hearts are so prone to wander. Take my heart Lord, take and seal it. 



Do we really have a relationship and spend QT with the one we confess to love and worship? Not just, do we do spiritual disciplines, but do we enjoy our time with Him? Have you ever sat down to just listen to him speak? There's just something about God's love that is extremely life changing. He says, "Do you want to know me more? Do you choose to follow me? Do you want to experience my love? Slow down.. come to me. Abide in me, obey my instructions and find rest for your soul. 


"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you." -Psalm 55:22


"Truly my soul finds rest in God (My soul waits in silence); my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." -Psalm 62:1-2
 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you REST. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find REST for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matt. 11:29


Past, Present, Future

Have you ever met someone totally in love with Jesus? What characterizes their life? We'll one.. they pray a lot and spend a bunch of time with Jesus. This depth is accumulated, by simply receiving, waiting, and listening to God speak. Do we intentionally invest and set aside time to be present with our Abba Father?


What are you worried and anxious about? Are you like me and over think your bad decisions in the past? Or do you worry and freak out about being 25, coming out of seminary to realize you can't really use the degree to find a full time job to pay off expenses, get health insurance and a retirement plan. God says, "Do not worry." Does God not provide? God is the Divine Strategist, He knows what's best for us.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." -Matt 6:33-34


Here's the deal. God is sovereign right? God sovereignly led his people in the OT right? Yeah they disobeyed and had idols, but he led them to repentance. So i think when it comes to the future.. we need to really ponder about what faith and trust really is. God's will for us is perfect right? He works all things for our good right? Then why do i fight so hard to get my own selfish ambitions satisfied? Isn't it better to be content trusting that God will lead me to where i'm supposed to be, then to try and figure everything out? sometimes that's so much easier said then done. What does it really mean to trust God? 


Power of Prayer

I forgot how much power there is in prayer. Prayer actually changes us as well. It develops a heart of worship and gratitude. Prayer is a great way to trust God, because it acknowledges that we need help and can't do life alone. God help me to surrender my anxieties and negative moods. I am yours, i'm all yours. Take my pain and heal my wounds. Help me to slow down and to seek you in patience and in silence. Help me to be broken over my sins. To turn from disobedience. Renew and awaken me. fill those who are feeling empty, troubled and dry. Help me to be satisfied in you. Help me to grow in virtues and to flourish. 


Slaughter Self-Interest

Dying to ourselves daily, and taking steps towards imitating Christ's love will grow us towards maturity and also make us more compassionate towards others. Surrender requires giving up our own selfish ambitions and desires. Surrender is saying, "God take all of me. Have your way with me." Surrender is giving ourselves to God, and giving him all our insecurities. 


The opposite of growing in virtues, is living and practicing Vices. This de-sanctifys, and makes us self-destruct. We develop bad habits and characteristics by living pridefully and selfishly. The seven deadly vices are named, Pride, Jealousy/Envy, Anger, Slothfulness/ Laziness, Avarice/ Greed, Gluttony/ Overindulgence, Lust


God sometimes seems like a tiny little star in the sky I can barely see. But when we really do focus with a telescope and draw out all the other lights, we can get a brighter view of God's light. We're told to fix our eyes on things above and to hide ourselves in Christ. I think it's kinda cool to think of God as your hiding place. Somewhere safe, private and secure. 


"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" -Col. 3:1-3


I listened to a professor share about, "Canannization" in the book of Judges. no it's not bible canonization. Rather.. it's about how the Israelites were becoming indistinguishable from their neighbors the canaanites. Like how Christians now days are basically living the same lives as non-Christians. Holiness is being set apart for the worship to God. He talked about de-sanctification. Canaanites had ignorance towards God's instructions. what made the Israelites become similar to the Canaanites? 


1) Disobedience, 2) Idolatry, 3) Syncretism (wrong thoughts, practices, and false ideas of God) 4) Self-Interest 5) Ignorance, 6) Apathy, and ultimately 7) Rejection of God. 




They dethroned God and enthroned themselves. Are we conforming to the pattern of this world? Or are we being transformed by the renewing of our mind and being living sacrifices? Do we acknowledge God's kingship/ authority? Or do we enthrone ourselves and make ourselves god? We all worship something, but who's on the throne in our life? Abandon carnality, slaughter your self-interest, deny self and pursue holiness.


Spiderman

If you ever watched the 3rd Toby Maguire spiderman, half way through the movie, you watch this evil Venom side of him take over. He becomes dark. and basically becomes a jerk to Mary-Jane. He loses his identity, values and does everything narcissistically. But when you think about it, don't we all have that evil side to us as well? We're saints by the blood of Christ, but we still sin. For awhile I lost myself, and my identity in Christ. I became a chris i didn't know, because the chris i knew wouldn't do the things he did. Towards the end of the movie, spiderman fights off the evil inside of him and Eric Forman becomes venom lol.


Health

I think in isolation and apart from meaningful relationships in community, we all become venom. Did ya know that christian and secular studies all show that people in religions that emphasize Forgiveness all have higher statistics of being happy, having more self-worth, less stress, less chronic illnesses, and a higher well-being? Flourishing and our sense of self-worth comes from receiving forgiveness, love and grace.

Another aspect to our health is taking care of ourselves. 200 years ago we didn't even have the lightbulb. No computers, no social networks, no smart phones. lol poor 1800s. People didn't stay up late working because there was no light! They went to sleep early and got lots of rest. if you think about it. We're so consumed by technology. Yeah we have entertainment on television, but is that really restoring us? We grow up learning workaholism and over productivity. And our health pays the toll. 

Our Divine Manufacturer created us to eat, sleep, be active, and to take care of ourselves. We're so busy how we spend our time, that we compromise taking care our spiritual health. We burnout and become so easily spiritually fatigued. I don't think God created us to be overworked. He set up the Sabbath so people could find rest in his goodness. Are you healthy spiritually, emotionally, cognitively, physically, relationally? No? Don't they all seem connected? What can we do to take care better care of our health? .. cant believe i spent this much time on a blog again. too long..