"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the prophets." Jesus
As I have been thinking about this topic of character over the past couple of weeks, I've been led more and more to the thought that our character is shaped to a great degree in how we interact with others. While we would all love to just be given a good character, the reality is that the development of a good character involves a good bit of work and a great deal of consideration for others.
Or maybe a better way to say it is something along the lines of what Jesus said in the quote above. If you do to other people what you want them to do to you, the likelihood is that you will have a good character. If you want people to treat you kindly and with respect, it's a good idea to treat them kindly and with respect. If you want them to think less of you, then simply think less of them. In the grand scheme of things, how we interact with and treat others will invariably become the way that they interact with and treat us.
This is by no means a guarantee. I'll use a personal example. I generally try to be good-natured and good humored around others. I'll try to greet them with a smile and say something uplifting to them, or ask how they are doing. But there are always those who will seem like they just want you to leave them alone. They brush you off, or ignore you, or just kind of grunt back at you and move on. In that case, it's likely that your character, at least in their eyes, is less than desirable.
But overall, I really do believe that Jesus knows what He is talking about here. Our character is going to be defined by how we interact with and treat others. If we think that we are better than other people, or that we deserve more than they do, that's just going to come across, and will affect our character in their eyes. If we are humble toward others, if we listen to them, if we show a genuine interest in their life, that also will come across and affect our character in their eyes.
Our character is shaped by the way we are toward others. And wouldn't you know that God knew that all along?
As I have been thinking about this topic of character over the past couple of weeks, I've been led more and more to the thought that our character is shaped to a great degree in how we interact with others. While we would all love to just be given a good character, the reality is that the development of a good character involves a good bit of work and a great deal of consideration for others.
Or maybe a better way to say it is something along the lines of what Jesus said in the quote above. If you do to other people what you want them to do to you, the likelihood is that you will have a good character. If you want people to treat you kindly and with respect, it's a good idea to treat them kindly and with respect. If you want them to think less of you, then simply think less of them. In the grand scheme of things, how we interact with and treat others will invariably become the way that they interact with and treat us.
This is by no means a guarantee. I'll use a personal example. I generally try to be good-natured and good humored around others. I'll try to greet them with a smile and say something uplifting to them, or ask how they are doing. But there are always those who will seem like they just want you to leave them alone. They brush you off, or ignore you, or just kind of grunt back at you and move on. In that case, it's likely that your character, at least in their eyes, is less than desirable.
But overall, I really do believe that Jesus knows what He is talking about here. Our character is going to be defined by how we interact with and treat others. If we think that we are better than other people, or that we deserve more than they do, that's just going to come across, and will affect our character in their eyes. If we are humble toward others, if we listen to them, if we show a genuine interest in their life, that also will come across and affect our character in their eyes.
Our character is shaped by the way we are toward others. And wouldn't you know that God knew that all along?
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