Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
April 7, 2002 - W0214

What is character? Character is defined as core values you hold within you, convictions that are unquestionable. They are those beliefs that go from your head to your heart and leak into your shoes so that you walk in them. They squeeze into your hands so that your every action is influenced by them. They influence everything about you: decisions, responses, thoughts, even your life goals. Character is the deep weight of who you really are under the surface.

Character is like the keel of a sailboat beneath the water line, where nobody sees. The ballast at the bottom of the keel can weigh up to 8,000 pounds. This weight beneath the waterline enables the sailboat to survive storms and rough seas. No matter how badly the sailboat is battered, thereís a calm assurance that the sailboat will continue the course. Just like a sailboat, weíre going to be tossed in a topsy turvy world between success and failure, victory and defeat. And weíll need confidence that will take us the course though weíre battered.

Question 1: If someone were to describe your character, what would they say about you?

Thereís a man in the Bible of such character that God called him, ìa man after My own heartî: David. In David we find six character traits that made him a man of great success in the world and one of great favor with God. As we go through each of these, check yourself: where are you at in these six character traits? Allow each one to aspire you towards developing a character that will lead to success and, more importantly, Godís favor. ìDiscipline yourself for the sake of godlinessî (1 Tm. 4:7).

Catch the six things Scripture observes about Davidís character: ìBehold, I have seen a son of Jesse...who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with himî (1 Sm. 16:18). Letís take a closer look at each one, beginning with the first trait that inspired Davidís successÖ

1) DAVID TOOK TIME TO HONE HIS SKILLS.

ìDo you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure menî (Pr. 22:29).

ìSo David shepherded them in the integrity of his heart, and he guided them with his skillful handsî (Ps. 78:72).

Davidís first character trait was that he was known as a skillful musician. This tells us that he took the time to cultivate and hone his skills. He learned to express his emotions in creative and beneficial ways. Although he was an expert in guerilla warfare, he invested the time and energy to express his soul by journaling. He made it a habit to reflect on his life and his relationship with God and write about it. By journaling, it helped David become a thoughtful man and one prone to success.

ß         David was a balanced person.

A lot of times, many people are one-dimensional. For example, a businessperson may be all business and only tolerates family, church, and kids. But David, who eventually became king, reflected on life by journaling. He even phrased them and rhymed them in such a way that they became poetic. This must have delighted God so much that He included it in His Word as the Psalms and, later on, Jesus Himself quoted from them.

Our encouragement here is to develop a discipline for daily devotions and journaling; reflect on life! If you havenít done that yet, your character is waiting on you. We need to live balanced lives because it will inspires personal success.

Not only was David a skillful musician, but he was also famous as ìa mighty man of valorî:

2) DAVID WAS KNOWN FOR HIS COURAGE.

ß         David was willing to take risks for God.

David was known as a brave hero because he was willing to take risks for God. He didnít take risks merely for his own personal glory or selfish ulterior motives, but to obey God and earn His favor.

ìHave I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you goî (Josh. 1:9).

At the age of nine David was already willing to risk it all when Goliath arrived on the scene. Now get this, if David had lost to Goliath, then the whole nation of Israel would have served the Philistines from that day on, and this would have been the beginning of the end for the nation of Israel. But when David risked it all, God delighted in this little shepherd boy because He saw a willing heart that wasnít afraid to face a giant. So delighted was the Lord that He unleashed the resources of heaven to help David. Armed with nothing but a slingshot and a pebble, David was able to slay the giant and win victory for his entire nation.

Question 2: Is there anything you believe in so much that youíre willing to risk it all?

Maybe itís in the area of your family, your marriage or your call to ministry. Whatever it is, when you risk it all for what you believe in, it delights the heart of God. And it is then that He is able to unleash the resources of heaven to help you move creatively and triumph in it.

Not only was David a skillful musician and courageous warrior, but when life required him to be serious, he got serious. Thatís another necessary trait if you aspire to success.

3) WHEN NEEDED, HE COULD GET SERIOUS.

David didnít get what he got by inheritance, but by scrapping for itóby developing and mastering his skills. Basically, he worked on himself. He developed a diligent work ethicóby enduring and perseveringóand didnít make excuses.

Some people canít get serious about their relationship with God. They become complacent and merely tolerate church. These people soon feel like theyíre ìfar from God.î They put their lives on cruise control and think theyíre immune from the enemyís attacks until itís too late.

God encourages us to get serious about our relationship with Him because He knows that the enemy of our souls is crouching at our blind spots, waiting for the second when we slip up and become weak. Itís at that split second in time when heíll move in, tempt you and wreak havoc in your life. This happens simply because we donít get serious when we need to.

Question 3: Is there an area in your life that you need to get serious about? Pray and ask for His guidance, and then answer this question, first identifying one specific area. Then identify a practical solution for getting serious. For example, if you watch too much T.V., commit to cutting down one show for this week and replace that time with family time, gardening, devotions or even much needed sleep.

Get serious with your relationship with God. Stop cutting corners and giving in to temptation. Those who are successful are able to get serious about life. The fourth character trait of a person after Godís own heart is that they are:

4) PRUDENT IN SPEECH.

ß         Engage mind before mouth.

ìDeath and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruitî (Pr. 18:21).

ìEven a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is counted prudentî (Pr. 17:28).

Davidís wisdom came through in the way that he spoke: He knew when to speak and when to silence himself. Like David, we need to know this critical difference because sometimes we speak when we should be silent and weíre silent when we should speak.

One of the best books to help you control your tongue is called ìProverbs.î In fact, if youíve just started reading the Bible, start by reading this book. Read a chapter a day. There are 31 chapters, so you can go through the book of proverbs once a month, twelve times a year. Then after each chapter, journal it and reflect on its wisdom. This will keep you balanced and help you to be prudent in speech.

5) DAVID REPRESENTED THE LORD WELL.

ìUse every part of your body to give glory back to God because He owns it. For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your bodyî (1 Cor. 6:19,20).

David presented himself in such a way that he represented the Lord well. His hygiene practices were excellentóhis weight, hair, dress, countenance, postureówere all well groomed. Scripture says, ìLet your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father in heavenî (Mt. 5:16). David represented the Lord, not the world.

We are not representing ourselves, the world or a trend; we are representing the Lord. Itís like a picture in a frame where the picture is Godís heart and we are the frame. What would people say if the picture frame was gaudy that it drew all of the attention to itself? Itís important not to draw attention to the frame, but to the picture.

For ladies, this doesnít mean you have to over dress or under dress. Neither should you draw attention to your self when you walk into a room. Just make sure you represent the Lord well. I think the greatest beauty secret of all was told by Leon Tucker as he saw an Amish woman that wore no make up yet was strikingly beautiful. He asked her the secret of her beauty. She smiled and said, ìFor my eyes I use compassion. For my hands I use gentleness. For my figure, I use uprightness. For my face, joy. And for my fragrance, I use contentment.î I thought, Wow! Move over Shiseido! Isnít that about the best beauty secret ever? Make up should draw attention to the eyes because Scripture says, ìthe lamp of the body is the eye.î Your eyes are the windows into your soul, where you communicate compassion, interest and concern.

Question 4: Are you presenting yourself in such a way that represents the Lord well? How might you improve in this area?

6) AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.

ß         Davidís relationship with God was obvious in all he did.

ìHow blessed is the one whom Thou dost choose, and bring near to Theeî (Ps. 65:4).

It was well known in those days that David and God spent a lot of time together because it was so obvious in Davidís decisions and in his lifestyle. Those who have a relationship with God shine naturally because it leaks into everything about themótheir work, their marriage, their speech, their thoughts, their parenting styleÖ everything!

I encourage you to develop a relationship with God through the discipline of daily devotions. It will help you to draw near to the heart of the Living God. Youíll also be able to know His voice and hear when Heís speaking to you Ö and when Heís not. Heíll be able to advise you in the character traits that will lead to His favor. And it wonít be long before people will look at you, and say ìYouíre sure close with God! You must be hanging out with Him a lot!î And it wonít be long before you hear Him say, ìThatís a person after My own heart!

Question 5: Is your relationship with God obvious?

Question 6: What point most impacted you today? Why? How will you be different because of it?

Summarized by Doreen Rabaino