Character Counts

In my years of ministry, I’ve had hundreds of opportunities to counsel people during times of relational crisis. What amazes me is how often people are blind to the connection between their problems and their own lack of character. When they recognize it, the smart ones confess and repent; they get right with God and they make it right with others. The foolish refuse to see it. It’s always someone else’s fault. “If you knew what it was really like, you’d take my side.” “It’s just the way it is, it’ll never change.”

Here’s the million dollar secret: It will only change when we take responsibility for our own character.

Character trumps ability. It trumps personality. It trumps giftedness. It trumps knowledge. It trumps opinions.

This isn’t about being more religious or legalistic. The Gospel tells us that God loves us unconditionally and saves us through His unmerited grace. Our character has nothing to do with whether we are worthy of salvation. However, the Gospel is transforming. It resurrects our souls, redeems our guilt, and renews our minds. Someone who has been saved ought to grow in character. If you’re not, then you’re interrupting the power of the Gospel in your life. There’s a kink in the hose somewhere. The fruit of a saved life is high character.

At Harvest, we use an acronym of “FATHER” to help understand the qualities of character:

Faithful
Available
Teachable
Humble
Encouraging
Respectful

Every one of these is a choice we make: We can choose to be faithful or to be unreliable. We can choose to be available or to be overbooked. We can choose to be teachable or obstinate. We can choose to be humble or judgmental. We can choose to be encouraging or draining. We can choose to be respectful or critical.

I know few people in my life who excel at all six (I call them “Sixers”). When I have done relationship counseling, when I have hurt others, or when I have been hurt by others, I can always connect the cause to a failure in one (or more) of the six qualities. Nothing damages a church worse than an attitude or action that comes from poor character.

The Bible is very clear that the Holy Spirit labors within us to make us more like Christ (Romans 8:28-30). Jesus was a Sixer. His church needs Sixers. The world needs Christians who are Sixers.

Are you a Sixer?