Virtues better than appearance

"I felt it necessary to send you my brother Epaphrodite, my fellow worker and fighter ... And honor such men." Philippians 2:25 - 30

To honor someone is to hold them in high esteem. Esteem is the respect and consideration we have for a person based on values. It's another way of talking about love, the love we have for the person through the joy they bring us. Paul recommends Epaphroditus, someone deserving of esteem, to the Christians of Philippi.

When the Lord sent Samuel to the family of Jesse, for it was in this family that God had found a successor to King Saul. Jesse had many attractive-looking sons. At the first call of each of them, David, the youngest, found himself in the bush with his father's herd, which had every possible risk. Samuel chose from among those present before him, according to what he saw and what interested me, but God rejected his choice. God's choice was young David in the bush.

"Man looks at the appearance, but God looks at the heart." (1Samuel 16:7) Virtues make us men of trust and interest to God for His work. God doesn't employ anyone who can't be useful anywhere.

The esteem the apostle recommends is based on the intrinsic values of a man or woman or something else. It is based on virtues and qualities that bring joy. We are bound to be unhappy as long as our choices are based on external criteria, group affinities and effects, and following.

The Holy Spirit is the one who inspires according to God's choice.

Pasteur Clémentine