Building Character

Building Character God on Monday
Read previous

‘We dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you should lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory’ (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

Reflection

A few summers ago, we contracted a firm to install decking in our back garden. They completed the job remarkably quickly and the finished result looked incredible. However, in a matter of months, we noticed that the planks were beginning to bow and break in several places. By the following summer, it had become completely unstable. Upon dismantling the decking, we discovered poorly laid foundations. What had been built quickly had not been built well.

In these verses, the Apostle Paul invites the believers in Thessalonica to let their lives be a worthy reflection of Jesus and his kingdom. It is an invitation that extends to each of us today. But it is easy in our work to focus on outcomes, given the pressure to produce tangible results. Yet God is not only interested in what we build but in how we build.

Does your character match your competence? Just like with our decking, there are no shortcuts. Good character has to be constructed over time, through a series of small and intentional choices. Making these choices will, over time, determine the quality of your character.

In engineering, the term ‘structural integrity’ denotes the resilience of a material to hold together under a load. It is similar when it comes to godly character. My walk and my talk need to hold up on ordinary working days, especially when deadlines loom and the heat is on. I need to represent Jesus well in what work I do, and in the way I do it.

Our attitudes and interactions with those around us speak volumes about the God we follow. May our lives tell of God’s goodness and loving kindness, wherever he has placed us.

Response

Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight any areas of your character that need greater attention for you to reflect Jesus in your work. What could you do to invest into your character as well as in your competency?

Prayer

Lord, we long to live a life worthy of you, and to reflect your goodness and glory to the world around us. Help us by your Spirit to develop Christlike character. May our choices be full of integrity and compassion, so that others might see you in and through our actions and attitude. Amen.

This Week's Author

Nicki Sims, Senior Leader, Skylark International and Skylark Church

God on Monday is produced in partnership with the Church of England. The reflections are based on the scriptural readings designated for the next Sunday in the Church's lectionary. You can sign up to Faith in Business here to receive each God on Monday instalment.

Feel free to share these reflections with your contacts via email and social media

Hello and welcome to Faith in Business. We hope you enjoy getting to know us!
Click here to see more.

Get Involved

Get involved with Faith in Business

Stimulating and resourcing the business world for over 30 years

Faith in Business’ vision is of business as a force for good, transforming society in a way that expresses the kingdom of God. We encourage and equip Christian business people to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ in a demanding workplace context. With an eye on the future, we are especially committed to serving young business leaders.

Faith in Business is active on many fronts. We run an annual retreat, co-publish a quarterly journal, host a monthly webinar, provide topical weekly reflections and facilitate a business prayer network. As a volunteer-led organisation, we'd love you to get involved with us and there are a number of ways you can do this: