Some of you may know that for several years I have worked to write a rule for life. I finished the rule last fall and now on Monday evenings “The Little Flock” gathers to study The Rule of The Little Flock. The Rule constitutes the three great virtues or vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Our vows are technically: poverty toward self, chastity toward the world and obedience to the Word. These three virtues or vows of poverty, chastity and obedience are rooted in the three temptations of Jesus. Jesus’ response to Satan, “One does not live by bread alone…” is the foundation of poverty. “Do not put the Lord your God to the test,” is the foundation of chastity. And “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him” is the basis of obedience.

Poverty, chastity, and obedience are not exactly popular virtues. We associate them with monasticism, a life seemingly devoid of pleasure, possessions and sex. I think that we are not jaundiced toward these virtues because of the severe asceticism of monastics, but we dislike them because of our attraction to and fascination with wealth, sex and a lack of moral constraint. Indeed, it seems that wealth, sex and a lack of moral restraint are the cardinal virtues of our culture and the life vows that most have taken.

“One does not live by bread alone.” Poverty

We need to be clear that the virtue of poverty does not mean destitution. It is not meant to free us from concern for those who live close to starvation or in bad housing. That kind of poverty is destructive to the human spirit and to the general fabric of society. Inherent in “one does not live by bread alone…” is the truth that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. Fulfillment with all of its happiness and vitality cannot be reached through gratified greed. Wealth is a great test of character. It is an enchantment that tempts us to believe that to fully live is to posses much.

In the face of our insatiable appetites we are given a paradoxical gift. The resources of this world are limited. There is an end to what any person can possess. In the face of limited possibility for possessions we can discover that our acquisitiveness, rather than fulfilling us keeps us as less then human. Our eyes need to be opened to the riches of things we do not have to acquire, but that are our inalienable possessions. The paradoxical gift is this: the riches of heart, mind and imagination.

Seen in this light, Christian poverty is not something negative. It is the positive quality that recognizes that in a real sense the world is already mine. Poverty is the ability to enjoy the world because I am not anxious about loosing any of it or acquiring more of it, since in the end it can never be possessed. It recognizes the infinite worth of the resources of love, mind and imagination.

“Do not put the Lord your God to the test…” Chastity

The positive sense of Christian chastity has been castrated by prudish sexuality. Of course chastity has much to tell us about our sexual behavior; how instead of being enslaved to a compulsion, sex can enable us to possess ourselves with the greatest meaning. Before exploring this we first need to learn that chastity is much more than sexual abstinence. Chastity has its center in purity, simplicity and modesty. It avoids hidden agendas and excessive behavior. Above all it is not give to seduction and is not wanton. The bottom line is that chastity seeks the simple truth. Its yes means yes and no is simply that. Chastity does not avoid or hide from the truth and is does not even subtly dissemble.

The simplest thing said of chastity is that it is the opposite of temptation. Emotionally chastity attempts to discover genuine truths and to stick to them even in the face of temporary longings and superficial desires. It does not give into the reasoning that says, “ a little bit won’t hurt; and who will know.” Thus chastity seeks to simplify and clarify and to say no to the seductive elements that can entrap us and make us become false to the deepest truths. So, we can see the point of sexual chastity when considered in the context of chastity in general. Chastity demands realism about seductive things that abuse and use us and others for mere pleasure.

“Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” Obedience

The popular meaning of obedience is docile childlike submission, never fighting back and no trouble. If for many obedience means submissiveness, then no wonder a Christian may point out that Jesus was disobedient. His exterior disobedience toward encrusted traditions of the Scribes and Pharisees witnessed to an extreme interior obedience to God’s love and grace. He risked his life being obedient to his call to serve God’s will of love.

Obedience, then is a call to discover what it means to be made in God’s image. In this sense it is the discovery of one’s purpose in life. Obedience is to resist evil and seek and serve Christ in all persons. First and foremost Obedience means to hear. It is derived from the Latin word meaning to hear or to listen. It is fundamentally a call to hear God’s love and then to act upon it. Obedience is to listen to Christ’s love and then to act upon it. It is to worship the Lord your God and to serve him alone.

“One does not live by bread alone…” – Poverty.

“Do not put the Lord your God to the test…” – Chastity.

“Worship the Lord your God and serve him only…” – Obedience.

Three Christian virtues that will make sense of your life and give you peace. Amen