Wisdom that build character
Bottomline: Character counts cannot be a mere slogan, it must be an intentional life style of love and wisdom that comes not from our own strength but from Christs.
We may say with our mouths that character counts, that its the most important, yet sometimes our actions and ideologies don’t match up with that.
The older I get the more I realize that our world values and praises things like charisma and competence while neglecting character.
A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
19 As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart.
What does your life reflect about your heart and your character?
17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.
We can fake it for others but we can’t fake it for God. We can hide stuff from others but we cannot hide from God.
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.