Character Counts

For me, college basketball is much more fun and exciting to watch than the professional NBA league.   I think that the collegiate players just have more passion and dedication, and they play more as a team than as individuals.   While NBA players enjoy (in order) money, position and popularity, collegiate players prefer commitment, loyalty and unity as a team.
Coaching in the NBA seems like business management than actual coaching, since the players are often employed more like financial assets, and also the coach has less influence on players than a college basketball coach has over his collegiate players.   A few weeks ago, a legend and household name, coach John Wooden, passed away.  He won 10 NCAA championships at UCLA and produced so many great basketball players. Most of all, he had a great influence on the lives of his players.  And there are many stories, told by his former players, that had more to do with living than playing basketball.  One of a great many of his inspirational quotes that is commonly shared by his players is, “Be more concerned with your character than reputation, because your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”  All of his former players praise him for what he taught them as human beings rather than just playing basketball.
In the same way, our God is far more interested in who we are than in what we do or can do.  God is more concerned about our character than our careers because our character lasts a lifetime, but not our careers.  Paul says in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is.”   Jesus didn’t die on the cross just so that we could live comfortable lives.  He wants us to become like Himself so that we can influence others the same way.   We should ask ourselves: Am I more interested in what I can do and accomplish?  Do I worry about what others might think about me?  Rick Warren says, “God didn’t put us on earth just to fulfill a to-do list.  He’s more interested in what I am than what I do.  That’s why we’re called human beings, not human doings.”
We, as believers, are under a lot of pressure from the world.  Moral values are breaking down all around us.  The lack of modesty among people is causing loose living.  Unless we build the strong character of Jesus in us, we can be easily influenced by the pressures of the world and what others around us are doing.  It is easy in life just to conform and go along with the crowd.  And the worldly pressure can destroy our character.  The only way we can withstand worldly pressure is to build the strong character of Jesus in us.  And more importantly we cannot influence people in the world without it.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, “By their fruit you will recognize them.”  It’s easy to say that we are Christians.  However, the truth of the matter is that our character, not what we can say and do, will reveal who we really are.  Are we patient toward others?  Are we kind to others?  Are we not rude to others?  Are we proud of ourselves?  Do we get angry easily?  Are we not self-seeking?  Are we forgiving?  Do we keep bringing up past wrongs?
Do people recognize you as a Christian?  The world is looking at us and wants us to show them who God is.  And the only way we can show them who God is is through our pure and blameless lifestyle as children of God, a life that reflects the character of Jesus.  How are we doing?  Is our character becoming closer to His character?  Is our character closer to Jesus’ character than last year?  We may never become perfect like Him, but are we getting closer to Him as days go by?   Our character matters to God and also to people around us.  God wants us to be a walking witness of His Gospel and He is counting on our Christ-like character to do it.

July 4, 2010
Elder Neil Kim