“Be more concerned about your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” Dale Carnegie
Do you have the kind of character God can trust with His favor? In order to answer this question, you must first understand the definition of character.
Character is who you are when no one is looking and who you are when everyone is looking. In today’s world, which is overly preoccupied with image, it is easy to worry too much about our reputation and too little about our character.
Building a reputation is largely a popularity venture, but building character requires you to focus on your values, actions and commitments. Noble talk and good intentions are not enough to build true character.
Character vs. Reputation
In today’s world that is overly preoccupied with image, it is easy to worry too much about our reputation and too little about our character. Building a reputation is largely a popularity venture, but building character requires us to focus on our purpose, values and actions. Noble talk and good intentions are not enough to build true character.
Your reputation is what people think of you and your character is who you actually are! We can spend too much time building our reputation so that people like or speak highly of us. Reputations can change with our circumstances and can be inflated or destroyed in a brief moment, but Godly character is built through our daily walk.
Reputations come and go, but character will hold you through the storms and pressures of life. If you spend your time and energy constantly building Godly character, you will never have to live in fear of what others think or say about you.
Your character revealed
God is looking for men and women who have the character He can trust with His favor. Your ultimate focus should be living your life based on solid ethical values and principles. True Godly character requires you to surrender to God’s direction, when it makes sense and when it does not.
Men and women of character do the right thing even when doing right will cost them comfort. They understand the value of upholding their character is the key to progressing in God’s vision for them.
Your character is revealed by your deeds and actions and not just words, especially when there is a gap between what you want to do and what you should do, or where you currently are and where you truly need to be. Maybe the reason you have not excelled in what God has purposed in your life is that your character is not in proper alignment.
It may be time to evaluate your character and see where you truly stand. Which type of person do you choose to be? The choice is yours.
Person without character Person with character
- Takes the easy route Does the right thing
- Controlled by feelings Directed by values
- Make excuses Accepts Responsibility
- Gives up when challenged Overcome challenges
- Seeks external motivation Relies on internal motivation
- Words & Actions Contradict Words & Actions agree
- Choices lead to failure Choices position for success
- Selfishness rules Opens opportunities for others
- Contrary attitude Progressive attitude
Questions: What character strengths have you gained from a negative experience? Leave a comment.
Bernard Haynes says
Thanks for the great comment Susan. I like what you said that “good character cannot come out of a book it must be learned by living life. I know some people that believe because you earn a bunch of degrees or have great talent is what really distinguishes an individual from everyone else. I learned over the years that it is solid character that distinguishes you. I read a quote a few years ago that said, “your talent can take you where your character can’t keep you.” It hurts me when people will forfeit their character for a temporary pleasure.
Dan Black says
Great Carnegie quote! I think a persons character is tested often and during small choices between right and wrong. If we make the right and Godly choices then our character will be strong while if we don’t we will have holes in our character. Great post and reminder.
Bernard Haynes says
It is one of my favorite quotes.
floyd says
Love that quote, Bernard. This society has become all about sales, no character. Funny, the ones with character as based upon Biblical principles stand out and shine like the One who lives within. Never easy, but always gratifying.