virtue

God honors the righteous.  An foolish person cannot perceive any benefit to self sacrifice even of their appetites, until the consequences of their choices have befallen them.
1 Peter 3:17. It is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what
is right, rather than for doing what is wrong.

Keep plugging away in the way of righteousness and you will be rewarded beyond your imagination.
Psalm 37:34. Wait for the lord and keep his way.

Very few people are truly interested in self discipline and weak willed people are led off the path of righteousness, especially when 'everybody does it.'
Exodus 23:2. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.

When you have a personal relationship with Him, you know His disciplinarian methods to be harsh and an object lesson for the masses.  Whereas in terms of ignorance and brokenness He is gentle and nurturing, willful disobedience and hard headedness warrants a spanking.  He is a terrifying Judge because we are often unaware of which style of attention we've deserve.
Hebrews 10:30-31. For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is mine, I will
repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a terrifying thing to
fall into the hands of the living God.

Virtue may be thought of as unwise by abusive fools, but wise men value the virtuous and reward it in their children, employees, and neighbors.  In fact, the first Continental Congress issued a recommendation to the states, that they should encourage church attendance for it's ability to inculcate morals and virtue into the community.  Most of the signers of the Constitution made statements proclaiming virtue as a necessity for a free society to remain free.