A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. (Matthew 12:35)
From time to time, I am asked if I will serve as a reference for someone. Sometimes the person and I once worked together. At other times, it is an individual I have known for many years in more of a collegial relationship. Most often, the reference is work-related. Unfortunately with many companies, the ability to provide a work reference is often limited to dates of employment and position held with other information needing to be withheld for legal reasons. Once in a while, there are also requests for references where the information requested is more about the person’s integrity or character. In these situations, it is often possible to be more open in providing information in order to assist the person to become a qualified applicant.
What would you do if you were seeking a character reference on an individual and you were provided with the following narrative: “He will do anything you ask of him; in fact, he is fearless. He has had abundant periods of success but has also experienced great failures which include committing adultery and murder. Trouble seems to have a way of finding him.” This might be enough to shuffle this particular resume to the bottom of the pile. But what if you listened a little more and read a bit further to learn that additional words used to describe this individual include: devoted, repentant, trusting, humble, and respectful? You might wonder how this could be the same individual. Is it possible that they have a split-personality? What would you think of this person if you knew that the reference was coming directly from God as He describes “a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14)? Would you be surprised to realize that this is how he might likely characterize His loving servant, David, the shepherd boy who became a King?
When people talk about you, do they pronounce you as a person of character? Or might they simply say – “He’s quite a character alright!” Scripture tells us – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). Regardless of where David’s station in life positioned Him, He found His treasure in God. So it’s easy to see how even centuries later he would be remembered by the Apostle Paul as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). What is it then that defines one’s character? It would seem that it’s something that we strive for internally, that which enables others to capture glimpses of us as we act externally, and is also what God sees in each of us as we struggle through life and reach out to Him in faith. Abraham Lincoln once said that “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” God sees the tree in all of us, His very own creation.
It is not unusual in our society to witness frequent examples of character assassination. You need to look no further than the personal attacks on the lives of our political candidates. It is evidenced daily in the tabloids and social media as defamations are displayed about public figures as well as common folk who might live right down the block. The Bible says: “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16-19). God builds character in our lives by allowing us to experience situations where we are tempted to do these things. It us when we choose to do otherwise that we grow in character and become more like Christ. Helen Keller once said that “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” Here’s to success then for that good reference.
REFLECTION: What are those areas of your character that you need to work on? Have you grown in your Christian life in those times when you were faced with trouble, heartache, conflict, disappointment, pain, or misunderstanding? As a result of those difficulties – are there ways that you feel your character was strengthened? How is your character reflected in the ways you serve God?
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