Bible Study Notes-February

Verity Bible Study 2/24/07
Topic: V is for Virtue

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Key Verse: Charm is deceptive and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30

I. What is virtue?
a. Webster’s dictionary defines virtue as 1) general moral excellence; 2) a specific moral quality regarded as good; 3) chastity; 4) excellence in general.
b. The root word in Latin is virtus which means worth.
II. Biblical definitions
a. Ruth 3:11-Boaz says to Ruth when she laid at his feet on the threshing floor…
i. “For all the city of my people doth know that thou are a virtuous woman.” KJV
ii. “All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.” NIV
iii. “Everyone in town knows that you are an honorable woman.” NLT
iv. “For all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.” NASB
III. Characteristics of a virtuous woman (A woman of excellence) Proverbs 31: 10-31
a. Noble Character
b. Rare (more precious than rubies)
i. Natural rubies are very rare jewels. Very hard to find and very valuable.
c. Works willingly with her hands
i. She makes thread and sews quilts for her household
ii. She makes sashes and garments to sell.
d. She is a businesswoman
i. Buys a field
ii. Trades smartly
iii. Makes investments that yield good returns (from her earnings she plants a vineyard, she senses her gain is good.)
e. She rises before dawn.
i. She is preparing spiritually for the day.
ii. She orders her household and helps her family prepare for their day.
f. She watches over her household.
g. She does not eat the bread of idleness.
i. She does not waste time.
h. Her deeds declare her praise and bring her honor.
i. She does not praise herself or draw attention to herself.
ii. What she does (her righteous acts) bring her praise from others. She does not exalt herself.
IV. Chastity-A key aspect of virtue for Christian young ladies.
a. Dictionary definition: 1) not indulging in unlawful sexual activity; 2) decent, modest.
b. The Latin root word is castu which means pure.
c. Other definitions: 1) virtuousness; 2) sexual abstinence.
V. Sexual purity is a more excellent way
a. Abstinence from sex is not the only standard. Sexual purity is a more excellent way.
b. Sexual purity includes committing our bodies to those activities which only glorify God. This includes not engaging in sex, masturbation, oral sex, anal sex, heavy petting, etc. It also includes guarding our minds from images that defile God’s meaning of sex including pornography, sexually explicit television, movies, magazines, books, and conversations.
VI. Charm is deceptive.
a. Are you a flirt?
i. Do we dress to please guys or the Lord? Are we trying to be “sexy” in our style of dress?
ii. Our behavior should not “tease” guys. By definition to tease someone is to be deceptive because you do not intend to give them what they want.
iii. To “charm” someone means to seduce them by getting them caught up in YOU. As young ladies of the Lord, our conduct should push those around us to be caught up in CHRIST.