In his great little book, “Mere Christianity,” C. S. Lewis describes four “cardinal virtues” that every Christian should strive to have. These are qualities of character that were once common among our people. Today they are either unknown or ignored by many.

The first virtue is prudence. Prudence is merely common sense, which I think is becoming less common each day. It means taking the trouble to think before acting and considering the results of our actions. It involves correcting course as needed. Jesus told us, “Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). All Christians need to be good examples, with the heart of a child and the head of an adult. 

Christianity sharpens the mind when taken seriously. The Lord led me to get a seminary degree when I was past 60, but I had a good friend who got all his learning from God’s Word. And he was a great man and marvelous preacher. Paul Bunyan (“Pilgrim’s Progress”) was uneducated and yet wrote a book of startling subtlety.

Temperance is Lewis’ second virtue. Unfortunately it has changed it’s meaning. It originally referred not specifically to drinking, but to all pleasures. It never meant abstaining but controlling the extent of pleasure. Christianity was never intended to include only teetotalers. The Bible only condemns drunkenness. Mohammedanism is the teetotal religion. Some sects, including Baptists, wrongfully added this prohibition as a requirement for being a “good” Christian. But let us keep in mind that our Lord changed water into wine and even drank wine. Lewis suggests that it’s a bad man who cannot give up something without wanting everyone else to give it up too. We are warned not to add to or take from scripture. The danger is temptation to judge others.

The third virtue is justice, and it includes fairness, honesty, truthfulness, keeping promises, etc. I have often preached against making promises. Promises are hard to keep, and we lose credibility and respect from others if we break a promise. Whenever anyone tells me he will do something for me or for my church, I have learned to thank him but discount it in my mind. Ninety nine times out of a hundred it will never come to pass. So my advice is simply, “Don’t go around making promises.” If you plan to do something, just do it unannounced unless it needs announcing.

Fortitude is the last virtue Lewis advocates. This is best defined as “Guts.” It’s having the courage to do what you have to do or should do. Jesus said, “You are my friends if you obey me.” There are some good pieces of advice concerning courage. “First things first” is one of my favorites. Best of all is, “Do it now.” I hate procrastination, that most destructive of habits. Opportunity knocks, sometimes only once. Jesus also said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).