CHARACTER

And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness – Ephesians 4:24

CHARACTER tells what a person really is. It is the strength of moral fibre. A person’s character is the sum of his or her disposition, thoughts, intentions, desires, and actions. A.W. Tozer described character as “the excellence of moral beings.” As the excellence of art is its beauty, and the excellence of gold is its purity, so the excellence of man is his character. Persons of character are noted for their charity, ethics, and honesty. The lives of several people in the Bible were distinguished by persistent moral value, and demonstration of noble character: Ruth (Ruth 3:11), Hanani (Neh.7:2), David (Psa.78:72); and Job (Job 2:3). Descriptions such as “man of principle” and “woman of integrity” are assertions of character. The colors of Character include: contentment, dignity, magnanimity, self-denial, simplicity, sincerity, and seriousness. A lack of character is moral deficiency, and persons lacking character tend to be uncharitable, unethical, and dishonest.

We can better understand character by distinguishing it from reputation. Your character is the reality of yourself; your reputation is the opinion others have formed of you. Your character is in you; your reputation is from other people. Your character is your substance; your reputation is your shadow. Mahatma Ghandi said: “The end of all knowledge must be building up of character.” 2 Peter 1:5-7 calls for diligent, disciplined, life-long effort on the Christian’s part (v.5a). It also contains a list of character qualities for which God has made provision and for which every Christian should strive. Character is influenced and developed by our choices. Daniel “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” in Babylon (Dan.1:8). That godly choice was a vital step in formulating an unassailable integrity in the young man’s life. Character, in turn, influences your choices. “The integrity of the upright will guide them…” (Pro.11:3a).

Assessing character demands a look at a person’s entire life. Character is gauged by general tendencies, not on the basis of a few isolated actions. For example, King David was a man of good character although he sinned on few occasions (1Sam.13:14; 2Sam.11). In contrast, although King Ahab may have acted nobly once, he was still a man of overall bad character (1Kgs.22:35; 16:33). However, people best show their character in trifles, where they are spontaneous and not on their guard. Character is in insignificant matters, and in the lightest habits, that we often see the boundless egotism which disregards the feelings of others, but denies nothing to self. Small kindnesses, courtesies, and considerations, habitually practised in our social intercourse, give a greater charm to character than the display of great talents and accomplishments.

Every true Christian is empowered and required to manifest the Character of Christ, not simply by emulating His words, but in all manner of life. The Christian faith is centered on conforming to the Image of Christ. According to Acts 11:26b: “…the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” They didn’t call themselves Christians; their actions, behaviour, character gave them up as Christians. Character is a quality within, with outward manifestations not just a set of rules to be observed. The beauty of character is than it can be cultivated; it is not worn suddenly or on-and-of like a garment. Character can change. Abraham, from an idolatry background became God’s intimate friend. God changed his association, location, name, confession, spiritual status (from faithless to father of faith), social status (from fruitless to father), and character. Jacob was transformed from a supplanter to become a Prince with God. His name and character were changed.

The Character qualities we are to pursue are also the character traits of God. Becoming like Christ is a continuing quest through the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification, not a quick-fix. It is comparable to the tiny embryo taking human shape by degrees; so the Christian takes the likeness of Christ by degrees. As he grows in grace, that likeness becomes better defined, in pursuit of the “measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph.4:13b). Is your stewardship of character a beam of light to those in darkness? As you put your trust in God, He’ll ensure that you grow spiritually and develop character traits that fully radiate the Christ-life.