Strength of Character
A few years ago, we were considering adding a man to the Leadership Team of our church in Seoul. He had served as a leader in previous churches, and he appeared to be an excellent choice. He and his wife attended regularly, gave graciously to the mission of our church, and were well-respected by our members.
But during the process of considering this man, another trusted church leader asked to meet with me privately. The two men worked together in the same office, and it turned out that our potential new leader led a very different life outside of church. When confronted about his behavior, he responded, saying, “Church is church and work is work.”
Not everyone is likely to be that blunt about it, but the fact is, I have encountered this problem far too often. Sadly, church attendance for many people is not something integrated into their daily lives. It is cultural. It is habit. It is divorced from the rest of their lives. I wonder if this is why so many in the church today struggle with a real, living, vibrant faith?
We cannot separate our character from our faith. But I wonder if we truly understand what character really is.
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “character?” I expect most of us would agree that people of character are people of integrity. Their lives are integrated, complete, whole. They are not one person at work, another at home, and another at church.
Not only do people of character lead lives of integrity, but they also possess a clear moral compass. But that moral compass is more than a list of do’s and don’ts or a black and white checklist of rules and regulations. No, their morality flows from a heart that longs to be like Jesus.
Another quality found in men and women of character is hope. Romans 5:4–5 tells us that “character produces hope.” More importantly, it teaches us that “hope does not disappoint us because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
I want to us look at these three signs of godly character: (1) integrity, (2) morality, and (3) hope. All three are desperately needed in the church today.
I’m afraid that, as Christians, we have lost sight of the fact that the Christian life is an inside-out life. The New Testament teaches that God is at work in you.
God works in the deepest part of our being, our spirits. And He is at work on your will and mine to inspire us to live lives that honor Him, and, at the same time, bless us. (Philippians 2:13)
What this means is that morality, integrity, and hope are an inside job.
Christianity is not a religion of morality; it is a religion of relationship. A growing relationship with Christ is the key to spiritual growth, not a strict observance of rules.
It is this same maturing relationship that produces integrity. As we grow spiritually, we become less fractured and more whole or complete. (Our English word, “integrity” comes from a root word meaning integrated.)
Best of all, this growing intimacy and commitment to our Lord lead to one of the most precious things in life, hope. Once we have given birth to hope and held it in our hearts and experienced its power, we are changed forever.
Hope is a priceless treasure, and when we make it our own, it can never be lost.
And let me close by saying this — If life’s journey has led you or someone you know into a desperate search for hope, I want to encourage you to persevere in your pain because your feelings of hopelessness are the labor pains of an eternal hope that God is seeking to give birth to in your heart.
In Christ,
Dan
This is an excerpt from my book, “Masterpiece in the Making: Life Lessons for Spiritual Growth.”