Reputation vs. Character

This past weekend we discussed the final “F” in the Man of God series: faithful. The Greek word has the understanding of someone who has been won over, who has been totally persuaded to the point of willingness to obey. The word faithful means to be trustworthy, it means to be dependable to do what God says to do in His Word.

Let’s think about our reputation. All of us have a reputation. What’s yours? Are you a “hot-head”, a “laid-back individual”, a “loving, peaceful person”, a “no-nonsense kind of guy?” Maybe your reputation is a “quiet” person or a “loud” person. Whatever it is, your reputation is what you want people to THINK you are. Conversely, your character is what God KNOWS you are! Big difference. We all have a reputation at the workplace, at church, at the gym; but who we are when no one is around, who we are when we are in the privacy of our homes – that’s our character. Your faithfulness to Christ points directly to your character.

This character reflecting faithfulness starts with the little things.

“Whoever can be trusted (faithful) with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” – Luke 16:10

Are you holding a grudge against someone? Are you angry at someone? The Word of God says in Ephesians 4:26 to never go to sleep angry at anyone. We must deal with these issues, and if we don’t, we are not dependable to do what the Word of God says to do – NOT FAITHFUL! What types of words come out of your mouth when [fill in the blank] isn’t around? How did you fill out that federal tax form or that state assistance form last quarter? Your dependability to do what God’s Word says do starts with the “little” things.

Your faithfulness in the little things – that’s your character. It’s what your family knows about you. It’s what happens when you are sitting there watching the television and something immoral comes on. It’s what goes on when you are by yourself. It’s what goes on in your thoughts.

And the word is dependable, not perfect. Sometimes it is after the failure in your life that your faithfulness (character) is seen. What do you do when you mess up?

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

God’s Word lists the instructions for after we fall. Confess – to agree with God about your sin. To look at what you did just like God does. Like King David after being approached by the Prophet Nathan. Are you dependable to the Word of God after a failure?
Now this character trait doesn’t come from us.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..." – Galatians 5:22

Only those who have the Spirit of God in them can be faithful. How about you? Can God count on you in the little things? Can God trust you? Are you faithful? How’s your character?