What role does character development play in my life?
The Greek word for character is charakter. It is translated in Scripture as the “express image.” According to The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament, the word “originally denoted an engraver or engraving tool. Later it meant the impression itself, usually something engraven, cut in, or stamped, a character, letter, mark, [or] sign. This impression with its particular features was considered as the exact representation of the object whose image it bore.” In Hebrews 1:3, Christ is referred to as the “express image” of God; He fully expressed the character of God through His life.
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. We can take comfort in this purpose when we experience difficulties, because “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Operational Definitions of 49 Character Qualities
- Alertness vs. Unawareness
- Being aware of that which is taking place around me so I can have the right response to it (Mark 14:38)
- Attentiveness vs. Unconcern
- Showing the worth of a person by giving undivided attention to his words and emotions (Hebrews 2:1)
- Availability vs. Self-centeredness
- Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I am serving (Philippians 2:20–21)
- Boldness vs. Fearfulness
- Confidence that what I have to say or do is true and right and just in the sight of God (Acts 4:29)
- Cautiousness vs. Rashness
- Knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions (Proverbs 19:2)
- Compassion vs. Indifference
- Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others (I John 3:17)
- Contentment vs. Covetousness
- Realizing that God has provided everything I need for my present happiness (I Timothy 6:8)
- Creativity vs. Underachievement
- Approaching a need, a task, an idea from a new perspective (Romans 12:2)
- Decisiveness vs. Double-mindedness
- The ability to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God (James 1:5)
- Deference vs. Rudeness
- Limiting my freedom in order not offend the tastes of those whom God has called me to serve (Romans 14:21)
- Dependability vs. Inconsistency
- Fulfilling what I consented to do even if it means unexpected sacrifice (Psalm 15:4)
- Determination vs. Faintheartedness
- Purposing to accomplish God’s goals in God’s time regardless of the opposition (II Timothy 4:7–8)
- Diligence vs. Slothfulness
- Visualizing each task as a special assignment from the Lord and using all my energies to accomplish it (Colossians 3:23)
- Discernment vs. Judgment
- The God-given ability to understand why things happen (I Samuel 16:7)
- Discretion vs. Simplemindedness
- The ability to avoid words, actions, and attitudes which could result in undesirable consequences (Proverbs 22:3)
- Endurance vs. Giving up
- The inward strength to withstand stress to accomplish God’s best (Galatians 6:9)
- Enthusiasm vs. Apathy
- Expressing with my soul the joy of my spirit (I Thessalonians 5:16,19)
- Faith vs. Presumption
- Visualizing what God intends to do in a given situation and acting in harmony with it (Hebrews 11:1)
- Flexibility vs. Resistance
- Not setting my affections on ideas or plans which could be changed by God or others (Colossians 3:2)
- Forgiveness vs. Rejection
- Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and allowing God to love them through me (Ephesians 4:32)
- Generosity vs. Stinginess
- Realizing that all I have belongs to God and using it for His purposes (II Corinthians 9:6)
- Gentleness vs. Harshness
- Showing personal care and concern in meeting the need of others (I Thessalonians 2:7)
- Gratefulness vs. Unthankfulness
- Making known to God and others in what ways they have benefited my life (I Corinthians 4:7)
- Hospitality vs. Loneliness
- Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, and spiritual refreshment with those whom God brings into my life (Hebrews 13:2)
- Humility vs. Pride
- Recognizing that it is actually God and others who are responsible for the achievements in my life (James 4:6)
- Initiative vs. Unresponsiveness
- Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it (Romans 12:21)
- Joyfulness vs. Self-pity
- The spontaneous enthusiasm of my spirit when my soul is in fellowship with the Lord (Psalm 16:11)
- Justice vs. Fairness
- Personal responsibility to God’s unchanging laws (Micah 6:8)
- Love vs. Selfishness
- Giving to others’ basic needs without having as my motive personal reward (I Corinthians 13:3)
- Loyalty vs. Unfaithfulness
- Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to God and to those whom He has called me to serve John 15:13)
- Meekness vs. Anger
- Yielding my personal rights and expectations to God (Psalm 62:5)
- Obedience vs. Willfulness
- Freedom to be creative under the protection of divinely appointed authority (II Corinthians 10:5)
- Orderliness vs. Disorganization
- Preparing myself and my surroundings so I will achieve the greatest efficiency (I Corinthians 14:40)
- Patience vs. Restlessness
- Accepting a difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it (Romans 5:3–4)
- Persuasiveness vs. Contentiousness
- Guiding vital truths around another’s mental roadblocks (II Timothy 2:2)
- Punctuality vs. Tardiness
- Showing high esteem for other people and their time (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
- Resourcefulness vs. Wastefulness
- Wise use of that which others would normally overlook or discard (Luke 16:10)
- Responsibility vs. Unreliability
- Knowing and doing what both God and others are expecting from me (Romans 14:12)
- Reverence vs. Disrespect
- Awareness of how God is working through the people and events in my life to produce the character of Christ in me (Proverbs 23:17–18)
- Security vs. Anxiety
- Structuring my life around that which is eternal and cannot be destroyed or taken away (John 6:27)
- Self-Control vs. Self-indulgence
- Instant obedience to the initial promptings of God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:24–25)
- Sensitivity vs. Callousness
- Exercising my senses so I can perceive the true spirit and emotions of those around me (Romans 12:15)
- Sincerity vs. Hypocrisy
- Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives (I Peter 1:22)
- Thoroughness vs. Incompleteness
- Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected (Proverbs 18:15)
- Thriftiness vs. Extravagance
- Not letting myself or others spend that which is not necessary (Luke 16:11)
- Tolerance vs. Prejudice
- Acceptance of others as unique expressions of specific character qualities in varying degrees of maturity (Philippians 2:2)
- Truthfulness vs. Deception
- Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts (Ephesians 4:25)
- Virtue vs. Impurity
- The moral excellence and purity of spirit that radiate from my life as I obey God’s Word (II Peter 1:3)
- Wisdom vs. Natural Inclinations
- Seeing and responding to life’s situations from God’s frame of reference (Proverbs 9:10)
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