Building
Character Through Honesty.
Proverbs
12:22 NIV, “The Lord detests (hate) lying lips, but He delights in people who
are trustworthy.”
I
often wonder what it will take to build character in a person. Why is building
a character so important? It reminds me of a talent parable that one of the
three servants had a bad attitude toward the master. The third servant was not
allow to enter into his future kingdom instead the servant was cast into outer
darkness. What was he called?
Unprofitable servant, wicked (unpleasant
thoughts) and lazy servant. [Ref: Matt. 25:26, 30]
This
Scripture made me realized that it was all about building up a character in
labor for the master. The master wanted
to know what kind of servant he would have for his future kingdom by giving
them money to set up and work on their own business. During that time, the
servants were developing the finance growth in business as well as building
their character through labor and honesty.
To
develop a small business, it takes a lot of planning, time consuming, trials
and errors. Being honest in business is so very important. For some people dishonesty is a habit that
finally caught up in the open at the very end. Honesty, is also a habit, a
habit that would provide a powerful reward for those who put character above
personal comfort.
To
put character above personal comfort means it is only through experience of
trial and suffering that strengthened our soul, our vision cleared, our
ambition be inspired and we have achieved our success. Just remember that character CANNOT be
developed in ease and quiet. Character
is not build by doing nothing. Character
is not build by being lazy. Character is not build by giving nothing. Like the master said to the third servant, “You
are unprofitable, wicked and lazy.” Wicked means unpleasant thoughts.
The
parable of the talent gave us a warning to ask God, “What do You want me to do?”
Prayer: Dear Lord, every day can be
an exercise in character building with You as my partner. You are first in my life and thank You for
leading me to study Your Word and often worked on Manna to help others to be
inspired by You. And also help me to
serve Tony as a caregiver. Help me to teach others with Bible Study and be
useful in Your kingdom here and in the future kingdom. Bless them that read this Manna in Jesus
name. Amen!
Song: Have Thine Own Way,
Lord
Have
Thine own way, Lord,
Have
Thine own way.
Thou
art the Potter, I am the clay;
Mold
me and make me, after Thy will,
While
I am waiting, yielded and still.
(Inspiring Choruses)
Dorothy
PS:
What does this Manna means to me? I was
so impressed how God would touched someone to get me to read the Character
building devotion booklet. Why? Because God
had seen Tony and me wondering what we could really do on a daily basis for Him.
Then the studying the character building has opened my mind to realize that is exactly
what God was doing. Many verses became
clear such as “all things works together”; “edifying us”; “be transformed by
renewing of your mind”; “be conformed to the image of His Son”; “according to
the working of His mighty power”; “study to show yourself approved unto God”
and even quoting the “healing verses.”
God
is working mightily inside of us meant “God is building a character inside of
us.” Jesus, our Master’s goal is NOT to have an “unprofitable, wicked (unpleasant thoughts) and lazy servant” in
His future kingdom. As a famous deaf and
blind Helen Keller’s quote, “Character cannot be developed in ease and
quiet. Only through experience of trial
and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired
and success achieved.”
While
I was meditating over this “Building Character Through Honesty,” I thought of
two choruses that inspired me to share this with you. I just pray that it would enlighten us to
grasp what God is actually doing, “building a character” inside of us. Praise
God!
Song: Keep Me True, Lord
Jesus
Keep
me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true;
Keep
me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true;
There’s
a race that I must run,
There
are victories to be won.
Give
me power, every hour, to be true.
(Inspiring Choruses)
Song: Jesus, Use Me
Jesus,
use me,
And
O, Lord don’t refuse me,
For
surely there’s a work that I can do.
And
even though it’s humble,
Help
my will to crumble (break down).
Though
the cost be great –
I’ll
work for You.
(Inspiring Choruses)
May
the Lord truly bless you!
Dorothy
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