Character

 By Alagbe Shenayon

There was a story I was told about a man who had been jobless for a while. He would greet an elderly man at the bus stop near his house and help him knot his tie. 

One day, he went for an interview and discovered that the elderly man was the owner of the company. The kindness he had shown paved the way for him.

An older friend asked me about someone who said, "That's just how they are," regarding someone with anger issues. I replied that as believers, we shouldn't be like that. We all have flaws, but our flaws shouldn't dictate our actions. Our actions preach to people, and if we fail to live up to expectations, people may assume that's how Jesus is. If the Jesus we claim to have isn't helping us with our character, something is wrong.

As believers, we are called to live a life that honors God and reflects the character of our Lord Jesus Christ. In a world where integrity and moral fiber are often lacking, it's crucial that we strive to build a life of character that shines like a beacon in the darkness. We are the Jesus that people are reading!

So, how do we build a life of character? Here are a few key principles to consider:

1. Humility: Humility is the antidote to pride and arrogance. It means recognizing our place in God's story, acknowledging our weaknesses, and being willing to learn from others. Admit when you mess up and find a way to correct yourself. Remember, God opposes the proud.

2. Compassion: Showing compassion to others demonstrates our love for God and our neighbor. It means being empathetic, kind, and generous, even to those who may not deserve it.

3. Self-discipline: Self-discipline is the ability to control our thoughts, words, and actions. It means setting boundaries, prioritizing our time and energy, and pursuing holiness.

4. Forgiveness: Forgiveness is a hallmark of Christian character. It means releasing grudges, letting go of resentment, and extending grace to those who have wronged us.

Character VS Anointing

There's been a story of people who are anointed but their character hasn't preached anything about Christ or even speak against them being a believer. Like I'll always say, anointing without character is annoying. Yes, it is. It gives another wrong image of Christ to unbelievers. I heard a story on "True Talk with TED" about a pastor who led the congregation to pray, then called a lady outside the church, trying to kiss and molest her. I'm not saying people don't have flaws, but how much are we working on our flaws? How much are we daily asking God to help us? How much are we asking Abba to work on us? 

Do you know it's better to have bad character and not have anointing than to have anointing and have bad character? Ask Samson and Moses; they will tell you how their lives ended. My sincere prayer is that may your life not be used as a bad example for the coming generations.

As we strive to build a life of character, let's remember that it's a lifelong journey. We'll stumble, we'll fail, but we'll also learn, grow, and become more like Christ. May God give us the grace to build a life of character character that brings honor to His name and inspires others to follow Him.