A Person's Character

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
1 Timothy 3 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. (1 Timothy 3:1-10, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
This must have sounded strange to most people in Paul’s time.  The description given by Paul has to do with the character of the person instead of their job status, wealth, education, knowledge, who they are related to, power or influence.  This was totally opposite of the culture at that time of how people were elected to positions.  Corruption was a way of life back then.  Paul was looking for people who would actually serve others and lay down their lives for others; instead of people only wanting to use their power and influence for their own personal gain or to use their power of influence to rule over and take advantage of other people. Paul wanted people who desired the position of serving others instead of being served.  This was a totally different mindset being presented to them by Paul.

Pharisees and other religious leaders of the time were notorious for using their religious power and influence to even take advantage of helpless widows and orphans (the weakest of the weakest).  Jesus rebuked the Pharisees many times over on how they were abusing their power and influence for their own personal gain.  God’s heart was breaking over the lack of compassion the Pharisees had for the people they were to be serving.   

When I traveled on a mission trip to India several years ago, I was able to understand more of what Paul was confronting during his time. We were told before we went on the mission trip that government officials and the local police expected a piece of the action; even if it was money or items being brought over for their own orphaned children in India.  The officials and officers who were paid to protect and serve the people were actually the ones taking from and abusing the people who could not defend themselves.  Everyone used their power of influence for their own personal gain. On our mission trip we had two suitcases full of eye glasses to be handed out to orphans and people of low means. I remember Greg having to haggle with the airport customs agents in India to get them across. I think Greg got them down to only taking two boxes of eye glasses for the price of us getting the remaining eye glasses through customs.  The custom agents were going to sell the eye glasses they took from us for their own personal gain.  It did not matter that the eye glasses were for orphans or other people in need.  Most people in India think corruption is just a way of life and there is nothing that can be done to change it. Unfortunately, this is the norm for most other countries around the world. 


POINT OF ACTION:
Good character is not only an issue for overseers and deacons but for anyone seeking after Christ.  These are characteristics we should all be striving for as we grow in maturity as Christians:  a willingness and desire to serve others who are less fortunate; to become a servant of all servants.

A person’s wealth, job status, education, knowledge, etc. does not mean anything to God.  God is always more interested in the inward character of a person than the outward appearance. Everything we have is from God. We must keep looking at our own character and see how we measure up to God’s standard. We may be strong in one area and weak in another area. Over time our character strengths and weaknesses may even change depending on our circumstances. 

We must recognize and confess our character flaws (sinful ways) to God and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can overcome our sinful ways of the flesh. Until we humble ourselves before God, let go of our pride, confess our sinful ways, give everything to God, worship and praise God with all of our heart; our ability to serve God will be limited. 


PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, please give me the courage and strength to walk through Your refining fire in order to take away my character flaws so I can be of use to You and others. As a good Father, You are more interested in molding and refining my character as Your beloved child. Keep molding and refining me into the person you designed me to be at the very beginning of creation. Also give me the courage and strength to let go of all the things of this world that is keeping me from seeking after You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Thank You for everything You do for me each and every day of my life; for each day is a wonderful gift from You.  Also, forgive me for the days I do not give You thanks for all of the awesome and wonderful things You do for me and my family.


WHO AM I?
I am Max Peeples, a man who is being molded and refined by God.  Most of my life I have been running away from God’s refining fire because it is not a pleasant process to go through.  However, I have been asking God to give me the courage and strength to walk through His refining fire in order to make me the man my wife deserves to have as a husband and a good brother to everyone I meet.