Résumé Virtues vs. Eulogy Virtues

David Brooks, NY Times columnist and author, wrote an opinion piece on April 11, 2015, entitled, “The Moral Bucket List”. In it, he contrasts those virtues we would put on a resume like education and work experience versus what people would say about us at our funeral. Brooks has since become a Christ follower.

Here’s an excerpt from that article:

“It occurred to me that there were two sets of virtues, the résumé virtues and the eulogy virtues. The résumé virtues are the skills you bring to the marketplace. The eulogy virtues are the ones that are talked about at your funeral — whether you were kind, brave, honest or faithful. Were you capable of deep love?

We all know that the eulogy virtues are more important than the résumé ones. But our culture and our educational systems spend more time teaching the skills and strategies you need for career success than the qualities you need to radiate that sort of inner light. Many of us are clearer on how to build an external career than on how to build inner character.”

I pondered these two sets of virtues after attending Bob Powell’s memorial on June 15th. Here was a man by all accounts who exemplified both. He was a competent wise chemistry professor as well as a stellar follower of Jesus whose life touched all who met him.

But I also asked myself what it would take for my eulogy virtues to be remembered more than my resume ones? What Scriptures would I need to internalize and live out?

Three NT passages stood out: Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, and Peter’s virtue list in 2 Peter 1:5-9.

Jesus in the Matthew passage provides a comprehensive kingdom curriculum in the Sermon on the Mount. It addresses the attitudinal adjustment and action component for citizenship in God’s kingdom. We never merit that citizenship, but we can exemplify what it means to have Jesus as our King by following the kingdom charter here in Matthew 5-7.

Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 is simply that. It’s a list of supernatural qualities that can only be produced in us by the Holy Spirit. I compare it to a bar graph. All the qualities of a Spirit-filled life are there, but some register higher on the graph. For example, agape love may be a strong suit, but self-control needs some work. All nine qualities are present, but everyone needs help in developing them to the fullest.

Finally, Peter’s progressive steps in 2 Peter 1:5-9 mirror the fruit of the Spirit. In verse 5, the phrase “make every effort” in the NIV implies intentionality and deliberateness. These qualities are Spirit formed but require effort on our part. Think of building forms for a concrete sidewalk. We construct the framework; the Holy Spirit fills the void. We exert effort but the Spirit does the heavy lifting.

Significantly, Peter sees these growing attributes as indispensable for a productive Christian life (v.8). In other words, eulogy virtues.

Frankly, we don’t always see these virtues in ourselves even though they’re there. Let’s work on them so others benefit. Let’s also make it a practice to identify them in others while they’re still living instead of at their funeral.