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WHY CHARACTER IS NECESSARY

By Dr. Andrew Corbett

The Lord is looking for leaders who will be His vessels. We can either be vessels of honour or dishonour (Rom. 9:21; 2Tim. 2:20).

Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
2Timothy 2:21

What constitutes a vessel of honour? Character. Character sustains real authority. Character sustains credibility. Character qualifies a person for the blessings of God. If we want to build churches that are churches of authority, credibility and blessing, we must be leaders and producing leaders of character. Throughout history people have occasionally foiled the purposes of God for the church due to their lack of character. Just because someone receives a powerful anointing from God, does not mean that they are people of character. Often these people will bring shame and disgrace to both themselves and the church by erring into immorality or strange egotistical doctrines. It is imperative that we learn to guard ourselves and others by learning the principles of character development found in the Scriptures.

 

THE FIRST PRINCIPLE

The first principle of character development is found in 1Corinthians 13. It’s the principle of love.

4  Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1Corinthians 13:4-7

As leaders we need to:

• suffer long (put up with adversity)
• be kind to others even when under pressure
• rejoice when others succeed instead of us
• live and conduct ourselves humbly
• not promote ourselves thus denying God His glory
• be sensible and well behaved, not rude
• be considerate of others, their wishes, their opinions
• show instant forgiveness and not harbour provocation
• be covering our brothers and sisters when they are slandered
• pray for our adversaries when they stumble
• bear neglect, mistreatment, or abuse
• be people of sound doctrine and faith
• be full of hope for the future
• endure hardship.

 

These characteristics of strong, godly character start in the area of attitudes. Our attitudes are not always truly visible. The Lord will always test our true character to bring our true character to the surface. Therefore, character is not something you can fake for too long.

 

CHARACTER TAKES TIME

Character requires correction.

Whoever accepts correction is on the way to life, but whoever ignores correction will lead others away from life.
Proverbs 10:17 (NCV) 

A person who refuses correction will end up poor and disgraced, but the one who accepts correction will be honored.
Proverbs 13:18 (NCV)

To truly develop character demands that we gladly accept correction. When was the last time someone hurt you with loving correction? What was your response to them? A person of poor, under-developed, character finds some flimsy excuse why they should now sever their relationship with that person who has corrected them. The result is that the church is weakened and pained with their absence (and lack of correction), the correcting pastor is discouraged, and the person leaving justifies their poor character and will wait until their next pastor attempts to correct them in the same area.

The New Testament says that leaders are identified as people of good reputation and character over time.

not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
1Timothy 3:6  (NKJV)

It takes time to forge and prove character. And while this is being formed the New Testament encourages leaders to “test” emerging leaders.

But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.
1Timothy 3:10  (NKJV) 

 

NO SHORT CUTS

Some things can’t be rushed and character is one of them. Reports of pastors who build big churches very quickly make me wonder about the depth of character in these churches. If you feel that your ministry and church are not growing as quickly and as big as you would like, rejoice, perhaps God is building your character before He gives you what you could not otherwise handle without a greater depth of character.

Andrew Corbett

 

© 2001, Andrew Corbett, Legana, Tasmania, Australia