Maturity of Character

In the past few months the Lord has been chatting with me regarding “character”.  I have frequently talked about “spiritual maturity” but the Lord seemed to be saying that I should look more into “character maturity”.

The Greek word for character is ‘charakter’. It is translated in Scripture as the “express image.” Christ is referred to as the “express image” of God in Hebrews 1:3 (Amplified Bible) He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God's] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power.

One of God’s primary goals for believers is to transform them into the image of His Son so that they may be a reflection of the character of Christ.

It would be easier if this was a “gift” that God supernaturally bestowed upon those who believe in Him, but we are told: Romans 5:3-5 (Amplified Bible) Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.  

Also James 1:2-4 (Amplified Bible) Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

These verses indicate that maturity of character is the end of a process that begins with troubles, trials and testing, moves into trust and obedience, transitions to joy and thanksgiving, moves into patience and endurance thus developing character and maturity. 

I’m sorry, but that is Gods way for us to become more like Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:5 (Amplified Bible) Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus:

This process, which Diane and I have seen repeat over and over again in our lives, has been witnessed countless times in the lives of those who God is using to serve in His Kingdom.  All we have to do is read the Bible accounts of those God used in the Old Testament to validate that this “process” seems to be the norm for those God wishes to use successfully to further His agenda on this earth

The stories of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Elijah, Peter, Paul and many others all indicate they had to go through this process.  This is not a one time event, but a continuously repeating learning process.  The more we understand and adapt to this process, the more our life will reflect Christ to those around us.

The following test can give each of us a barometer of where we are on the “mature character” scale.

Rate Yourself on 20 Character Traits

Character is who you are when no one is looking (and when everyone is looking). It is the inside “you.” Here are 22 aspects of character. How would you rank yourself on each of these? 

If we are honest in our assessment, we can agree that we are a long way from what James 1:4 says “so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing”.

The key is not the final result, but are we diligently following the process.  God has not left us to our own devices.  In fact, He has given us everything we need to be successful in Him.  The truth is that if we try and follow the process in our own strength, we will surely fail.

In the letter to the Philippians, Paul said it best when he wrote: (Vs 11-13) I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

Diane & I believe that, as Life Coaches, we are called to help equip, those believers that the Lord connects us to. (See Eph. 4:11-13 below) We fulfill that based on what the Word says and what we have experienced in the processes that God has put us through on the road to a more “spiritually mature character”.

I believe that, as each of us has successfully gone through one of these processes, God will then bring others into our lives that we are to walk beside as they go through the same type of process.  This starts with our natural families (children and grand children) and then to all those for whom God gives us an assignment.

Are you asking the Lord to reveal the process and progress you are currently within?  Are you asking the Lord to show you those He is connecting you with to help?

Ephesians 4:11-13 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church), [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.

Related posts:

1. God Speaks to Us!
2. GRANDMOTHER’S EXHORTATIONS
3. 2010 The Year of Faith

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