Not long ago I read an article a woman wrote about her father. She described him as a very humble man who was always helping others. She shared several examples of the impact her father’s life had on those around him. Then she told how, when he died, she took his old pocket watch to a jeweler to have it cleaned. The jeweler was fascinated by what he found when he opened its case. He explained that years ago it was possible to choose the case and the watch’s works separately. Most people chose a fancy case but inferior works. They wanted people to be impressed by the fanciness of their watch, even though it was actually pretty shoddy inside. This watch was just the opposite. It had a very modest case, but the inner works were the best available. The writer realized that the watch was just like her dad—modest on the outside but the very best on the inside.
As people—especially God’s people—what we are like inside is far more important than what we look like on the outside. Our character is of much greater value than physical attractiveness. Even the secular world is beginning to recognize this concept more and more. I recently saw a billboard for the Boy Scouts of America. It said simply, “Strong Values. Strong Leaders. Character Counts.” Of course it does.
James Emery White, in his book You Can Experience a Purposeful Life, shared this true story:
Whenever there is a separation between values and practice, things break down. In ancient China, the people desired security from the barbaric, invading hordes to the north. To get this protection, they built the Great Wall of China. It’s 30 feet high, 18 feet thick, and more than 1,500 miles long!
The Chinese goal was to build an absolutely impenetrable defense—too high to climb over, too thick to break down, and too long to go around. But during the first hundred years of the wall’s existence China was successfully invaded three times.
It wasn’t the wall’s fault. During all three invasions, the barbaric hordes never climbed over the wall, broke it down, or went around it; they simply bribed a gatekeeper and then marched right in through an open door. The purpose of the wall failed because of a breakdown in values.
Because the gatekeepers did not exhibit godly character, the nation was imperiled. The dictionary defines character as “the group of ethical and mental characteristics that mark a person or group such as moral integrity; reputation.”
In the Old Testament, when Boaz was attempting to pay Ruth the highest compliment he could, he did not refer to her beauty. Although Scripture seems to indicate that Ruth was a very beautiful woman, Boaz’s comment was much deeper. He told Ruth, “All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character” (Ruth 3:11). From Boaz’s position the outward beauty was far less significant than the inward beauty, her character.
The Bible does not frequently use the term character, but it does describe it for us. “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders. Character. How we live.
As Christians, we see Jesus as God’s holy Son. His life, death, and resurrection have given us abundant life here and eternal life in the hereafter. To us He is everything. However, there are those who are not Christians—even some who are anti-Christian—who still hold the life of Jesus in high regard. Why? Of course, it is partly because He was such a profound and practical teacher. Beyond that, though, the reason Jesus is so revered is because of His life and ideals. He was kind and compassionate, yet He stood up for what He believed. He was gentle and caring but refused to yield even before the haughty and arrogant religious leaders of His day. Jesus clearly epitomized servanthood and yet brazenly cleared the temple of those who were degrading God’s house. He cared little for what others thought of Him. His desire was to follow His Father’s will.
Jesus’ life has been emulated by Christians and non-Christians for centuries, and rightly so. In our generation, the pivotal phrase from Charles Sheldon’s classic book, In His Steps, has been popularized to the point of being a fad. “What would Jesus do?” can be seen on hats, t-shirts, bracelets, bumper stickers and notebook covers.
Perhaps the more important question for us is this: What does it mean to be more Christ-like? More than just how Jesus might behave in a particular situation, our lives should reflect His character. You know the old saying, “Actions speak louder than words.” It’s true. Our actions demonstrate who we really are far more than our words ever will. The Bible tells us, “Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right” (Proverbs 20:11). More than asking in each situation how Jesus would respond, what we really need are moment-by-moment virtuous qualities that show forth Who He really is.
C.S. Lewis said it this way:
Someone who is not a good tennis player may now and then make a good shot. What you mean by a good player is the man whose eye and muscles and nerves have been so trained by making innumerable good shots that they can now be relied on. They have a certain tone or quality which is there even when he is not playing, just as a mathematician’s mind has a certain habit and outlook which is there even when he is not doing mathematics. In the same way a man who perseveres in doing just actions gets in the end a certain quality of character. Now it is that quality rather than the particular actions which we mean when we talk of ‘virtue’.
At this point you may be wondering, “Is it actually possible to display those virtuous character qualities in all of life?” The answer really depends on your perspective on the question. If you mean, “Is it possible to live the perfect life that Jesus lived?,” of course the answer would have to be, “Not likely.” However, if you mean, “Is it possible to develop a life that truly reflects the character of God through our everyday actions?,” then my answer would be an emphatic “Yes!”
We all inherit traits from our earthly parents. My children all have very distinctive Kraeuter (Kroy´-ter) looks. Friends we haven’t seen in years almost always look at my kids and then at me and say something like, “It’s obvious whose children they are.” Besides the physical appearance, there are also personality traits passed on to the next generation. My son Stephen acts so much like I did when I was a kid that I frequently telephone my mother and say, “Mom, I’m so sorry.” She’ll laugh and, in a very matter-of-fact way, ask, “What did Stephen do now, dear?” All of us inherit certain traits from our parents. What traits would you like to inherit from your heavenly Father?
I remember an early Amy Grant song entitled “My Father’s Eyes.” The song said that when people looked at her life, she wanted them to recognize that she had her Father’s eyes. She wanted to have eyes that always looked for the good in each situation. She longed for eyes that showed compassion.
Obtaining godly character is not something that occurs suddenly, however. You are not likely to wake up one morning and find that you have taken on the fullness of godly character overnight. It takes time. Usually lots of time. Almost always it takes much more time than we would like for it to take.
I use a Bible program on my computer. One feature I have frequently found very helpful is The Teacher’s Commentary. That commentary describes character development this way:
We would all like to be instantaneously zapped with complete sanctification, to be sinless and perfect in everything we do. Unfortunately, although God could certainly cause that to happen, generally He doesn’t. Our maturation process is just that: a process. It takes time and growth is generally slow.
Although it takes time to develop virtuous character, God has given us clear instructions in His Word that we should indeed act in a Christ-like manner. Paul prayed for the church at Colosse that they would “live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way...” (Colossians 1:10a). God would not ask us to do something if it were completely impossible. On the contrary, the Lord has shown us how He causes that Christ-like character to be formed in us.
This book will give you practical tools for allowing God to build that Christ-likeness in your life, so that even upon close examination, your “inner workings” will be of the very best quality.