Your gifts and talents will only take you as far as your character. I have seen many people over the years with amazing gifts and talents but they never had the character to nurture and foster them. Character is like the foundations of a house, its below the surface and unseen. You know it's there but without it, a house will not last. Helen Keller said "character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved."
So here's the burning question; "do you have the character, to sustain your calling, your gifts and your talents?" You see Sampson had a tremendous gift - his physical strength. But at he did not have the character to keep himself 'successful' to the end. He tragically fell to Delilah, after being tempted. Who or what is the Delilah in your life that will try to trip you up, so that you become another statistic of fallen leaders? In this life you will face many trial, tests and temptations, that God will allow, for you to grow and come through as "more than a conqueror". Every time you pass these character tests, you set yourself up for more fruit and ultimate success. In fact Jesus says "whoever is trusted with very little, can also be trusted with much" (Luke 16:10 NIV). Jesus wants you to walk in all the potential of your gifts, but you need to be faithful first with a little.
Friends life is designed to test our values and morals. And rest assured, it will!! Settle it. But, these, once passed, will strengthen you, equiup you and enlarge your leadership capacity. Your CV, your qualifications, you degree, your reputation, your gifts, your talents, these all may get you to the top, but if you don't have Godly character as a strong foundation, you won't stay there. Too many people focus entirely on gifting when its actually Godly character that we should be aiming for. As you lead people, make Godly character your goal. When you do, God will trust you with more.
So here's the burning question; "do you have the character, to sustain your calling, your gifts and your talents?" You see Sampson had a tremendous gift - his physical strength. But at he did not have the character to keep himself 'successful' to the end. He tragically fell to Delilah, after being tempted. Who or what is the Delilah in your life that will try to trip you up, so that you become another statistic of fallen leaders? In this life you will face many trial, tests and temptations, that God will allow, for you to grow and come through as "more than a conqueror". Every time you pass these character tests, you set yourself up for more fruit and ultimate success. In fact Jesus says "whoever is trusted with very little, can also be trusted with much" (Luke 16:10 NIV). Jesus wants you to walk in all the potential of your gifts, but you need to be faithful first with a little.
Friends life is designed to test our values and morals. And rest assured, it will!! Settle it. But, these, once passed, will strengthen you, equiup you and enlarge your leadership capacity. Your CV, your qualifications, you degree, your reputation, your gifts, your talents, these all may get you to the top, but if you don't have Godly character as a strong foundation, you won't stay there. Too many people focus entirely on gifting when its actually Godly character that we should be aiming for. As you lead people, make Godly character your goal. When you do, God will trust you with more.
Happy leading
Amazingly true!
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