Charater speaks louder

Reverend Gathere (Chapu) sends His greetings.

The loudness of character

About a year and a half ago, our daughter was born. She’s grown up really fast, and she is beginning to show her personality. She can only say a few words, like ‘thank you’, ‘no’, ‘go’, ‘come’, ‘Oh no!’, ‘oh oh’ among a few others. But even without speaking, you can tell when she’s happy, sad, angry, tired, upset, stubborn or naughty. Her character speaks louder than her words.

Its no different for older kids, young adults like yourselves, or adults. Who they are comes out when you see them in action. The most eloquent, smart, and well groomed person might have a terrible character, while someone who cannot speak as clearly, or even be as well groomed might have an excellent character. If you want to know someone, you have to spend time with them. Their character will come out at their weakest moment. It will come out when the lights are switched off, when no one is looking.

Character is determined by what you want

In life, we are driven by what we want. For many of us, we want to be successful in life, perhaps bring up a family. For some people, they see value in living a luxurious life, filled with pleasure and leisure. For some, they just want a quiet life, with as little chaos as possible. All these desires can become consuming, leading to a formation of Character, good or evil. In the letter to the Romans, the author gives us a cogent summary of world history, how people became so evil:

Romans 1:16–28 ESV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

It is good for the human heart to have a good character, one that is attractive to others, and looks a lot like Jesus. To get a character like Jesus, we must want what He wants. This will require faith. Let’s look at a well known parable that explains this.

Wanting what Christ wants requires faith

Matthew 25:14–30 (ESV)

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Each of the servants received what they got from the Master out of their actions, which spoke louder. Their ability coupled with faithfulness gave them a character acceptable by the Master.

Show who Jesus is by your Character

Matthew 5:16 ESV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

When you are faithful to the calling of Jesus, your Character shines out. It becomes a beacon, which attracts the right attention, and brings many people to Jesus. One of the binding characteristics of God is His faithfulness. When He makes an agreement, He keeps it. Beyond that, His character looks like this (Read together)

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Sing together - Natamani Kutembea Nawe