Please forgive the absence of the last couple of days. A more full schedule, along with a little forgetfulness, will go a long way toward the lack of posts that sometimes comes up.
As we've been looking at character, the next arena of character I want to enter into is that which thinks about for whom we have good character. When we strive to have "good" character, who do we see as the recipient of this character?
Naturally, our first place to look will always be at ourselves. We want to be known for our good character because it enhances our reputation. We want to feel good about ourselves, and the things we accomplish. We want to be known as someone who keeps our word, or who is helpful. Very few of us strive to be known as selfish, or to be arrogant, or mean, or other character qualities that we may tend to view more unfavorably.
But looking at that previous paragraph, notice that, while we want these things for ourselves, they really involve how others see us. That means that our character is going to end up being defined by how we act toward and treat other people. If we want to be known as "good", then we'll have a hard time living up to that character if we are not good to others. If we want to be known as generous, it will be hard if we never give of our our time or resources to help others.
In other words, a significant part of our character is going to be determined by how we see others and what we do for them and to them. We don't have "good" character for ourselves. We have good character when we are truly good to others. In fact, the way that it works, when we are good to others, then we will become known for our good character. The reverse just doesn't happen. We aren't known for being good, and then decide to do good to others.
I recognize that you can probably find a number of characteristics that may not exactly fit this. Yet, every characteristic is somehow going to involve others, even if it is merely how we appear to others. (For example, a shy person may not interact much with others, but even that lack of interaction involves the lack of others, which other people notice.)
So when we think about the kind of characteristics we want to be known for, we would be wise to look at how we interact with others to see if those characteristics are being made clear. After all, character is formed to a great degree in the eyes of those whom God has put around us.
As we've been looking at character, the next arena of character I want to enter into is that which thinks about for whom we have good character. When we strive to have "good" character, who do we see as the recipient of this character?
Naturally, our first place to look will always be at ourselves. We want to be known for our good character because it enhances our reputation. We want to feel good about ourselves, and the things we accomplish. We want to be known as someone who keeps our word, or who is helpful. Very few of us strive to be known as selfish, or to be arrogant, or mean, or other character qualities that we may tend to view more unfavorably.
But looking at that previous paragraph, notice that, while we want these things for ourselves, they really involve how others see us. That means that our character is going to end up being defined by how we act toward and treat other people. If we want to be known as "good", then we'll have a hard time living up to that character if we are not good to others. If we want to be known as generous, it will be hard if we never give of our our time or resources to help others.
In other words, a significant part of our character is going to be determined by how we see others and what we do for them and to them. We don't have "good" character for ourselves. We have good character when we are truly good to others. In fact, the way that it works, when we are good to others, then we will become known for our good character. The reverse just doesn't happen. We aren't known for being good, and then decide to do good to others.
I recognize that you can probably find a number of characteristics that may not exactly fit this. Yet, every characteristic is somehow going to involve others, even if it is merely how we appear to others. (For example, a shy person may not interact much with others, but even that lack of interaction involves the lack of others, which other people notice.)
So when we think about the kind of characteristics we want to be known for, we would be wise to look at how we interact with others to see if those characteristics are being made clear. After all, character is formed to a great degree in the eyes of those whom God has put around us.
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