Your CHARACTER Will Outlast Your REPUTATION
Reputation is what you need to get a job; character is what you need to keep it.
Personality has the power to open many doors, but character must keep them open. It’s what you do when you have nothing to do that reveals what you are. It has been said, “We are not what we think we are, but–what we think, we are”.
There’s a great deal of difference between what is great in the eyes of God and what man admires. Jesus said, “you are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God” (Luk.16:15).
Your character is the sum total of your habits. You don’t get God’s blessing for knowing God’s Word. You get God’s blessing for DOING and OBEYING God’s Word and making it a habit in your life. Whether it’s exercise, diet, or a spiritual habit, you must stay with it every day for six weeks before it becomes a habit.
You don’t have to be anybody special to have character. Great men and women of God are just normal people who decide to develop good habits that stay with them for the rest of their lives. You FIRST determine your habits, and then your habits determine you. It’s never too late to develop good habits. They are what develop your character. and your greatness.
Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service & character. When the disciples of Jesus were disputing as to who would be the greatest Jesus replied, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Mat 23:11, 12)
Men of genius are admired;
Men of wealth are envied;
Men of power are feared;
But only men of uprightness are trusted.
The real measure of a man’s wealth is how much he would be worth if he lost all his money.
Integrity is not just a weekend thing. Paul set the guidelines when he said, “for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man” (2 Cor 8:21). Your reputation can be damaged by the opinions of others. But only you yourself can damage your character. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Col 3:23).
Circumstances never create character; they merely reveal it. Everything in life is a test of character.
The book of Proverbs is mostly all about guiding a young man to build his character. “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out” (Pro 10:9). “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways” (Pro 28:6).
So while our reputation may be important, our character is of greater importance. Reputation is what men think you are; character is what God knows you are. “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits” (Pro.16:2).
So in the end, we’re better off pleasing the Lord. We may not appear to be much in the eyes of man, but remember what Paul said, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the World to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the World, and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence” (1Cor.1:25-29).
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We cannot control the length of our life, but we can control its breadth, depth, & height.
What lies behind us & what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies us.
Much may be known of man’s character by what excites his laughter.
JAM.2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?
Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
Proverbs 20:7 The righteous who walks in his integrity– blessed are his children after him!
1 Peter 3:1. Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Proverbs 4:25-27 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
