Wisdom In All Things Special Series
You might say that it was Benjamin Franklin’s disillusionment with a sermon on Philippians 4:8 that was at least partly responsible for his conceiving of “the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection” that is his 13 virtues.
A wise life is a virtuous life. There is an expectation of behavior from someone who claims to be wise. This 13-part series will seek to help us understand a life that is exemplified by the characteristics elevated by this great American statesman.
EXPOSE | Chastity
“Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.” – Benjamin Franklin
EXPLORE | More Leads to Less
Don’t worry, I had to look it up too. Essentially, venery is “sexual indulgence.”
Living when he did, you’d expect Franklin to hold what some would call a prudish view of how we should express ourselves sexually. But even his explanation could be taken to be a little on the progressive side. He doesn’t exactly prohibit indulgence but instead warns of its implications.
When it comes to living life, I like to think that the older something is, the more likely it is to be right. It has had time to be tested and proved. After all, wisdom does not have an expiration date. Consider this argument from over 1700 years before Franklin:
“Abstain from casual sex and particularly avoid sexual intercourse before you get married. This may sound prudish or old-fashioned, but it is a time-tested way by which we demonstrate respect for ourselves and others. Sex is not a game. It gives rise to very real enduring emotional and practical consequences. To ignore this is to debase yourself, and to disregard the significance of human relationships.” – Epictetus
More than a prudish decree, chastity has broad and deep implications. Both Franklin’s and Epictetus’ arguments for chastity find their basis in what God had said of sexual immorality millennia before them both.
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God.” – Leviticus 18:1-4
The chapter goes on to describe the specific ways the Israelites are to behave as God’s people. Imagine what our culture would be like if we were to have abided by God’s mandate of purity? People not debasing themselves, and, having a high regard for the significance of human relationships would be pretty fantastic.
While Franklin and Epictetus are good at pointing out the consequences of rejecting chastity, they miss an important part of the equation. Everything has a purpose—and a place (or timing). Especially venery. When it comes to our sexual expression, purpose, and place are inextricably tied together.
Marriage was designed as the sole place for the purpose of venery to be satisfied. At least what Franklin points out—personal health and the well-being of a family—are realized when the expression of our sexual desires remains within the context of marriage.
If not for chastity, our unbridled expression leads to depletion. We’ll have less excitement, strength, peace, reputation, and most discouragingly, less to offer our spouse in marriage.
EXECUTE | Identify the Warning Signs
While venery is certainly one area that we need control over, it by no means is the only area where we need to exercise restraint. The essence of chastity—”the practice of refraining from”—can be applied throughout our lives. We can use the four areas Franklin pointed out as a means to identify wherever we’ve unwittingly blown through a barrier.
Is life seeming a little dull?
Dullness can lead either to idleness or, to us exploring things that ought to be explored. Both are cul de sacs of misery.
When something is dull, it has lost its flavor, or we have lost sight of its value.
- What part of your life has lost its flavor? What are some good ways to make it flavorful again?
- Is there an area that you need to rediscover “for the first time”, that will remind you of its worth and value?
Where are you weak or vulnerable?
We are weaker when we indulge but grow stronger through restraint. Weakness leaves us vulnerable. With our strength depleted, we expose ourselves to being undermined or are exhausted by having given ourselves away to something unworthy of any attention.
- Where are you exerting the most effort? Are you able to justify that level of effort in that area?
- Where has excess or indulgence left you vulnerable? How can that revelation motivate you to rebuild your defenses?
Where is there conflict, tension, or lack of harmony?
Peace of mind. Peace with others. Peace is so… peaceful. No good thing comes from chaos. Peace allows us to see clearly and to take the necessary time to find the right path forward.
- What areas or people are robbing you of order?
- What things do you need to let go of, or, that you need to decide to make progress on correcting?
- Where have you allowed disorder or discord to linger?
What are you known for? How is your life viewed by others?
This is a little tricky. We don’t want to be too concerned with what other people think. I was intentionally trying to avoid that by the way I asked the questions.
We need to care about how we communicate and, to a degree, how we’re understood. Our ability to persuade and influence is largely based on the reputation we have cultivated. Not having the right reputation can be very limiting.
- Would others describe you as someone who is in control of themselves?
- Is there a sense on the part of others that you take things too far?
- What parts of your reputation need repair?
Indulging ourselves ultimately leads to diminishing returns. Our impulses, when pursued in excess, lead to dullness. When life becomes dull, we become weak and vulnerable. We give in too easily, we can’t defend ourselves, and we can’t pursue what is best for us. Being unable to defend or control ourselves because of a lack of resolve, it is hard to maintain peace. A life of dullness, defenselessness, and discord is disastrous—who wouldn’t hold a dim view of such a person?
These are unintended consequences of “all gas, no brake.” When we let loose, we are certain to injure ourselves and others. As we all know, it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.
Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues – ebook & audio set
Drawing inspiration from Paul’s letter (Phil. 4:8) and Benjamin Franklin’s quest for virtuous living, this e-book and audio set aims to explore and put into practice these virtues as we exercise Wisdom In All Things.
Benjamin Franklin’s Grand Plan
Franklin’s “meticulous execution” of his 13 virtues was embodied in a chart he developed in order to observe and quantify his growth toward perfection.
There are a number of examples of his chart available, but here is one for reference from Homeschool Patriot:
Whether you use this chart, or devise something yourself, it is certainly in your best interest to have some tool in place to not only keep you focused, but to establish the habit of intentional growth in those characteristics that make up the virtuous life.
—
Further reading:
Franklin autobiography
The virtuous life: chastity
