…If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
In this verse to the Philippians, Paul teaches thought modification. He taught that if we exercise the discipline of thought modification, we can produce internal or intrinsic excellence. The phrase, “if there be any virtue,” suggest that if there is to be any intrinsic excellence, we must modify our thoughts to think on the things he mentioned first.
The term virtue refers to intrinsic excellence. That means people who are filled with excellence achieve that excellence by the thoughts they have about themselves and about the world around them.
Thoughts are powerful. They feed the seeds of greatness that are in the womb of our minds. They also can nurse the negative insecurities that limit us and exempt us from greatness, “for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he …” (Prov. 23:7)
There is a virtue that comes from tranquil, peaceful thoughts that build positive character in the heart. As a rule, people who are cynical and vicious tend to be unsuccessful. If they are successful, they don’t really feel their success because their cynicism robs them them the sweet taste of reward.