Character counts! That was the title of a program the school district had going while my children were in elementary school. Each morning the Principal or Assistant Principal would lead the Pledge of Allegiance, give the announcements and end with a great idea for being honest, trustworthy, patient, or charitable - then the words, "Remember, character counts!" would conclude the announcements. Just a little soapbox to stand on, As a parent volunteer, I heard the announcements often, and was somewhat amused that they would speak (indirectly) of the fruits of the spirit found in Galatians 6, hoping to build good young people to make good choices, yet they were not allowed to speak of God, of Jesus, or the Bible. They aren't allowed to pray openly. Ironic, huh? I'm off the soapbox now.
Character is everything. I used to be a wordsmith. I could say anything to anybody and truly have no desire to follow through. That is not my way the last 30 years or so. I had a life changing event that showed me vows and promises and words were not what makes a man - actions are most important. Actually that is not well said. It is the follow through, where words and actions meet that is most important. Solomon, the wise wrote, "Rich people always think they are wise, but a poor person who has insight into character knows better." Prov. 28.11 GNT - This is not a slam on the rich, but a factual statement that wisdom is character in practice.
Where does character count? We have glaring examples in society today of men and women who show little or no character every day. Politicians, Media, and Advertisers are the biggest examples of poor character, good intentions, or just plain liars. Employers no longer are concerned with their workers needs, they cut benefits and take vacation days and threaten while still piling on more work. My parents taught me that actions speak louder than words. I eventually understood that and now live it.
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." This famous sentence was part of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have A Dream' speech in 1963. Fifty years later, we have Christopher Dorner, George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin, not to mention the plethora of racial digs about a President, other racial digs due to rioting over court judgments - and the border stuff --- come on people!
I don't really care if you are blue, green, orange, red, yellow, brown, black, or pink - and what is most important God doesn't care - He told Samuel that the big and beautiful man who was king was being replaced by a little shepherd back in the early days of the Kingdom of Israel. Saul was a hunk, but he was a loser. God said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16.7 NIV - That is what MLK Jr. was saying.
People who stand up for what is right, not beneficial or popular, those are people with character. It bothers me to hear people reject the church because they point to the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Dark Ages in total - all to prove the corruption and fallibility of the church and therefore they shouldn't join. These same folks hate on referees and umpires because they are not perfect, they don't get involved in their community because of corruption in politics. I am a flawed and failing human saved because I know there is One greater than I am, and I accept Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrificial lamb that covered my sins with His death and opened the gates of heaven to me by His resurrection.
There is/has been only one flawless being since mankind first set foot on earth. I have no problem acknowledging that. He taught us character, and His closest followers wrote about His life and lessons so we can know today. Jesus is Lord of my life. Cliché's aside, I attempt every day to live as WWJD - what would Jesus do? My kids were taught this also. They have to answer for themselves, and just because I don't agree with them doesn't mean they are wrong. Abject rejection by friends and family of Christ does hurt my heart, though.
So the next time your boss says one thing and does another, or we hear a media personality make excuses for a great athlete or icon of some kind for their behavior, remember that character counts, and we all have the option to do what is right over what is easy.
