Character

In the ministry and in family and social relationships, a person's character is of extreme importance because it paints a picture of his or her reputation. Moreover, an individual's character is an important factor in determining how successful one becomes in dealing with others in the ministry and in other aspects of human relations. For example, a person who has various talents or abilities; but has a bad attitude or character may be successful for a moment, but may not be able to sustain it. The renowned bible scholar, D.L. Moody, makes a great correlation between character and reputation. He stated 'If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.' His statement makes sense in many different ways because your reputation is a by-product of your character. Even in the natural world, bad, tarnished, or rotten seeds cannot bring about a good harvest or good products. A writer once said; 'You don't determine your destiny; your character determines your destiny.' Therefore, character is the covenant foundation upon which great futures are built. Jesus was speaking about this interpretation in Matthew 7:15-20; He stated: '...by their fruit you shall know them.' So, developing a Christian, God-like character that gives glory to His name is a must. We need to cultivate and develop God-like character traits that portray us as His children.