Character Pelham Park Bible Study August 24 2008

Character Pelham Park Bible Study August 24, 2008 Based on a message by Rev Sam Davis entitled “What Character is and Does”

Relationships n n n Relationships are the most important thing in life The basis of all relationships is trust The basis of trust is character

n Hebrews 1: 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; χαρακτη ρ charakte r khar-ak-tar' From the same as G 5482; a graver (the tool or the person), that is, (by implication) engraving ([“character”], the figure stamped, that is, an exact copy or [figuratively] representation): - express image.

How is Jesus the Character of God n n n In what ways is Jesus like God? Does He look like Him? – No Does Jesus make the same kind of decisions? Does Jesus act like God? Does Jesus care about the same kind of things as God?

How Jesus reveal God’s Character n John 14: 6 -11 Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me. (7) If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. And from now on you know Him and have seen Him. (8) Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. (9) Jesus said to him, Have I been with you such a long time and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father. And how do you say, Show us the Father? (10) Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in Me? The Words that I speak to you I do not speak of Myself, but the Father who dwells in Me, He does the works. (11) Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the very works themselves.

Bible Synonyms - Integrity n n Psalms 25: 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. Proverbs 20: 7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. n n Definition – we are on the inside, what we say we are on the outside Example: Integrity of Steel – rings true it has integrity and can support the load

What is Character n Character is doing right without regard to inward desire, outward pressure or eventual outcome - Dr Bill Rice n Outward Pressure n n n What you are in the dark The measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out. — Baron Thomas Babington Macauley, English historian and statesman (1800 -1859) Eventual Outcome n You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, novelist, playwright, scientist and philosopher (1749 -1832) n The best index to a person’s character is (a) how he treats people who can’t do him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can’t fight back. — Abigail van Buren (Pauline Esther Friedman), American newspaper advice columnist (1918 -2002)

Habit n n n n Plant a thought -> Harvest an action Plant an action -> Harvest a habit Plant a habit -> Harvest a character Plant a character -> Harvest a destiny Doing right over and over until doing right is a part of life, until it becomes a habit Character is simply habit long continued. — Plutarch, Greek biographer (47 -120 A. D. ) If a man has any greatness in him, it comes to light, not in one flamboyant hour, but in the ledger of his daily work. — Beryl Markham, English adventurer and author (1902 -1986)

Character - Quotes n n n Why are we surprised when fig trees bear figs? — Margaret Titzel Life must be more about what we are than what we do or else we would be called human doings rather than human beings — J Kessler It is more difficult to be honourable for a week than to be a hero for 15 minutes — Renard n n Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wing, and only character endures. — Horace Greeley, American journalist and educator (1811 -1872) You can borrow brains but you can’t borrow character — Bob Jones Sr But rules cannot substitute for character. — Alan Greenspan, chairman of the U. S. Federal Reserve Board (b. 1926) Like the massive unseen foundation that supports the CN Tower so that it can stand 1, 800 feet above ground and not blow over in 260 mph wind. n 62, 000 tons of earth and shale to a depth of 50 feet were excavated for the foundation of the tower – took 4 months to finish

Impact of Character on Relationships Others Marriage God’s Character Our Character Career Destiny

Reputation vs. Character n Character is what you are – reputation is what others think you to be – Rev Sam Davis n Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. — Abraham Lincoln, 16 th U. S. president (1809 -1865)

No one can hurt your character n n Even if someone tries to destroy your reputation if you will keep your character right, God will probably restore your reputation. Your character cannot be essentially injured except by your own acts

Character will restore Reputation n Joseph n Sold as a slave n Because of his character resisted being seduced by Potiphar’s wife n n She accuses him of trying to seduce her n Sentenced to jail as a criminal Ended up as second in command of the world super-power

Why you can trust Character n n n n n If character opens it, character closes it. If character turns it on, character turns it off. If character unlocks it, character locks it. If character breaks it, character fixes it. If character can't fix it, character reports it. If character borrows it, character returns it. If character makes a mess, character cleans it up. If character moves it, character puts it back. If character sees something belongs to someone else, it will get permission to use it. If character knows that something is none of its business, character won’t ask questions

Impact of Character on Relationships Others Marriage God’s Character Our Character Career Destiny

Find the right marriage partner n n n Proverbs 11: 3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. All you have to do to marry wrong is to lack character - Rev Sam Davis Proverbs 31: 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Character is attractive Its lack is ugly and repulsive Attractive Obedience Humility Responsibility Truthfulness Sincerity Meekness Discretion Virtue Forgiveness Joyfulness Availability Self-Control Respectfulness Orderliness Resourcefulness Deference Gentleness Compassion Sensitivity Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Willfulness Pride Unreliability Deception Hypocrisy Anger Simple-mindedness Impurity Bitterness Self-pity Self-centeredness Self-indulgence Disrespectfulness Sloppiness Wastefulness Rudeness Harshness Indifference Callousness Replusive

Ruth and Boaz had it n n n What made Ruth and Boaz a match for each other חיל chayil khah'-yil Strength, power, virtue, wealth Ruth 2: 1 And Naomi had a kinsman(relative) of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. Ruth 3: 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. Proverbs 31: 10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. n A handful of rubies is worth in the millions

Character is a good test if you are ready for marriage n For a man n n For a woman n n Responsibility – knowing and doing what God and others expect of me Love – giving to others basic needs without having as my motive personal reward Humility & Teachableness – recognizing that God and other are actually responsible for my achievements in life Obedience Responsibility Respect Gratefulness For both n Loyalty – if you ain’t loyal, you ain’t nothing

Marriage problems caused by lack of Character n n n Won’t wait for a meal -> lack of patience Wants a divorce -> lack of endurance Is hurt and can’t go on -> lack of forgiveness Has a messy house -> lack of orderliness One way before marriage and another way after -> lack of sincerity Not submissive -> lack of loyalty Never listens to his wife -> lack of attentiveness Harsh towards children -> lack of gentleness Wasteful of money -> lack of thriftiness and contentment Won’t be steady on job -> lack of diligence Always late -> lack of punctuality Bad spirit in the home -> lack of joyfulness

Impact of Character on Relationships Others Marriage God’s Character Our Character Career Destiny

Character brings Career Success n Mayor not interested in character but economics 127 applied for position , 10 selected all failed the drug test n Another company moved away because temporary help failed to consistently show up n n Survey of 400 Ohio companies – at bottom computer, math, and, grammar skills – top was honesty and ability to get along

Ability vs Character n Most people say that it is the intellect which makes a great scientist. They are wrong: it is character. — Albert Einstein, Jewish-American mathematician, physicist and public philosopher (1879 -1955) n The main ingredient of good leadership is good character - General Norman Schwartzkopf n True character when it is instilled in the lives of young people will find the talent necessary to perform the task - Dr Jack Howes

Test n n n There are tests for nursing, engineering, etc. The test for a successful life is a character test Much more important than a high school or college diploma

Impact of Character on Relationships Others Marriage God’s Character Our Character Career Destiny

Destiny quotes n n Every man does what he is big enough to do There are no big jobs, only small machines and the same is true of men. — DR R G Letourneau, founder of Caterpillar builder of machines larger than they build today n n A man's character is his fate. — Heraclitus, Greek philosopher (c. 540 -c. 475 B. C. ) Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike. — Theodore Roosevelt, American adventurer and 26 th president (1858 - 1919) n Character, not circumstance, makes the person. — Booker T. Washington, American educator and civil rights activist (1856 - 1915) n The price of greatness is responsibility. — Winston Churchhill

Ruth vs Orpah n n n Ruth and Orpah made choices revealing their loyalty Hopeless, helpless, poverty-striken Ruth is married to wealthy charactered Boaz and is the great-grandmother of David ancestor of Jesus Christ According to Jewish Encylopedias, Orpah forsook the God of the Bible and became the greatgrandmother of Goliath Ruth is the 12 th most popular name in the world Hardly anybody calls their daughters Orpah

Where do we get this character from? Others Marriage God’s Character Our Character Career Destiny

Quotes n n n n What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. — Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, philosopher and poet (1803 -1882) To exercise good character daily is to be morally fit for life. — Karen Hartz, CC! coordinator, CHARACTER COUNTS! in Caroline County What a man’s mind can create, man’s character can control. — Attributed to Thomas Edison, American inventor (1847 -1931) The true test of civilization is not the census, nor the size of cities, nor the crops – no, but the kind of man the country turns out. — Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, philosopher and poet (1803 -1882) Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved. — Helen Keller, American social activist, public speaker and author (1880 -1968) The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. . . Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education. — Martin Luther King Jr. , American civil rights leader (1929 -1968) Character is that which reveals moral purpose, exposing the class of things a man chooses and avoids. — Aristotle, Greek philosopher (384 -322 B. C. ) Character is an essential tendency. It can be covered up, it can be messed with, it can be screwed around with, but it can’t be ultimately changed. It’s the structure of our bones, the blood that runs through our veins. — Sam Shepard, American playwright, actor and director (b. 1943) If we want our children to possess the traits of character we most admire, we need to teach them what those traits are and why they deserve both admiration and allegiance. Children must learn to identify the forms and content of those traits. — William J. Bennett, author and former U. S. Secretary of Education (b. 1943) Conviction is worthless unless it is converted into conduct. — Thomas Carlyle, Scottish historian and author (1795 -1881) Character is much easier kept than recovered. — Thomas Paine, British-born American political activist (1737 -1809) No change of circumstances can repair a defect of character. — Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, philosopher and poet (1803 -1880) The force of character is cumulative. — Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, philosopher and poet (1803 -1882) Not in time, place or circumstance but in the man lies success. — James Joyce, Irish novelist (1882 -1941) It is with trifles, and when he is off guard, that a man best reveals his character. — Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (1788 -1860) What someone is, begins to be revealed when his talent abates, when he stops showing us what he can do. — Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher (1844 -1900)