Character Counts

 







1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (NIV) 33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God — I say this to your shame.

 

It has been said that character is who you are when nobody is looking. Well, as believers, we know that God sees all and knows all. Therefore, we know that our character counts because we are never out of God’s sight!

Tom Osborn, the great football coach for Nebraska wrote a book entitled “Faith in the Game.” Listen to what he says about character from the first chapter of his book.

“At the beginning of each season, approximately 15 Division 1-A College Football teams possess the tradition, coaching, and talent to win a national championship. The differences among those 15 teams are very slight. Quite often the factor determining who finishes first, tenth, or fifteenth is largely a matter of character. Those teams that develop a unique chemistry based on factors such as honesty, hard work, self-sacrifice, faith and loyalty will out-perform teams of comparable ability that lack those traits. . . After examining factors relevant to our team success, I know that character was the foundation. . . In my view, achieving an understanding of character without relating it to faith is nearly impossible. . . My experience is that our relationship to God plays a significant role in that which we call ‘character’.”

John Wooden, former legendary basketball coach for UCLA said, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

Knowing “Character Counts”, don’t let bad company corrupt your good character. Someone said, “Friends are like buttons on an elevator – they will either take you up or down.” 


Brother Ray Cummings

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