Growing up, I always wished I was taller. As one of the shortest people in my class from first grade until high school graduation, my wish was never granted. Along with that wish for physical upward mobility, I also wished I was smarter, more athletic, and better looking.
It seems to me that growing more mature and becoming a well-adjusted adult is at least partially determined by recognizing the difference between what you wish for that cannot change and what you wish for that can change. Knowing the difference is staggeringly important.
God’s Part and Our Part
One of the biggest struggles for the Jesus follower is to know the difference between what God’s responsibility is and what’s ours. At times, all of us tend to blame God for those things which are our responsibility, then we take credit for something God did. Hmm, we are a funny people.
But it might be argued that the most valuable aspect of our life—the one area we have the most responsibility—is the development of our personal character. No one, not even God, can build good character into our life. Granted, God has given us commands in Scripture to follow, but we must choose to follow them. God speaks, we obey. Obedience leads to the development of character. Obedience is our responsibility.
Character is interesting. If you look it up in a dictionary it’s defined as “the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves.” I think that’s accurate. So, your character is who you are, and I guess we could say, according to one’s viewpoint, you have a good character or a bad one. The kind I’m writing about is good character. Character that is growing to be more and more like Christ.
Character is Unchanging
We say the letters A, B, C, etc. in the alphabet are characters. An A is an A in Africa, Asia, or anywhere in the world. It is unchanging. So, it is with our character. People of stellar character are unchanging. Meaning they are the same.
People of high character are the same in private as they are in public. They are the same in how they treat the CEO and how they treat the down and outer. They have the same honesty in financial dealings whether it involves $10 or $10,000. Godly character is consistent and predictable.
One could argue convincingly that the man or woman of good character doesn’t have a private life. There is no difference. What you see in public is also who they are in private. No surprises. No shockers. No closet skeletons. What you see is not only what you get but who they are.
But people of low character are as changeable as the weather report. They are inconsistent in their private and public life. They are two-faced in dealing with people and you never know what you’re going to get with such persons. Sometimes they’re honest, but other times they’ll lie. Sometimes they are loving and other times they are hateful.
How is your character? God can’t change your character without cooperation from you. You are responsible for your character. But if you will give God your life, your heart, and your character, and be willing to take the steps to change, His Spirit will empower you. The first step begins with you.
Pastor Steve
