A good character is the most important thing we can strive for. Character is what is on the inside, as well as on the outside. It's our thoughts, feelings, desires, motives, speech and behavior. Our character is what we can take to heaven. That's why we have to strive for a perfect one.
00:00:00.000A good character is the most important thing we can strive for.
00:00:07.000There were once three men who started out on a journey in search of hidden treasure.
00:00:13.000Each man was given a map with X marking the spot.
00:00:17.000Following this map was very difficult and it led them over rocks, through thick forests, into swamps and then finally over a steep mountain.
00:00:28.000The first man went over the rocks, through the forests and the swamps but when he got to the steep mountain he said,
00:00:35.000I don't feel like going over this mountain just for a little bit of treasure. I could live without it.
00:00:42.000The second man, when he had made it over all the terrain, made it to the place where X marked the spot and he started to dig.
00:00:50.000He soon discovered though that he was going to have to dig through solid rock.
00:00:55.000He chipped away for a while then said, why should I be here doing all this hard work when I could be at home having fun with my friends?
00:01:05.000Now the third man, when he had made it to the place where the second man had given up, started to dig.
00:01:12.000It was really hard work but he didn't give up.
00:01:15.000Then finally his shovel hit something. A box! It was the treasure!
00:01:21.000He opened it to find that it was even more valuable than he ever imagined. It had been worth all his hard work.
00:01:28.000So what was this treasure that was so hard to get at that the first two men had given up?
00:01:35.000And why was it even more valuable than the third man ever dreamed?
00:01:41.000Let's look a bit into what character is and maybe we'll see.
00:01:46.000Character is what is on the inside as well as on the outside.
00:01:50.000It's our thoughts, feelings, desires, motives, speech and behavior.
00:01:56.000Our character is the only thing we can take to heaven.
00:02:00.000That's why we must ask God to help us and he will be our foundation.
00:02:05.000When it comes to building character, a helpful thing to know is that you don't need much.
00:02:11.000Start with yourself, your personality.
00:02:14.000We have to remember that good habits will form good character.
00:02:19.000Like what decisions do we make? Are they for selfish reasons? Self-control, positive thoughts and a wholesome outlook on life can also help us.
00:02:31.000Sometimes it will be hard to make decisions or choices that will affect our character.
00:02:36.000That's why we must ask God for help and guidance.
00:02:40.000And by having a relationship with God and knowing what his character is like is essential for our development of a beautiful character.
00:02:48.000Then we learn exactly what kind of character he is seeking for us.
00:02:53.000The more we know God, the higher will be our idea of character and the more we will want to reflect his likeness.
00:03:01.000It says in Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 to 6,
00:03:05.000Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not into thy own understandings.
00:03:10.000In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths.
00:03:15.000That promise should be very encouraging to us.
00:03:20.000Our character does not only affect us, but it affects everyone around us.
00:03:25.000Being a Christian, helping others to Christ, building our character and helping others build theirs is a great way to shine for Jesus.
00:03:34.000Some people may think character is what others think of us and what they see and hear us do.
00:03:44.000To do a good deed or act of kindness doesn't define character.
00:03:49.000It's the way we act every day in the good times and in the bad times as well.
00:03:55.000Many people also mistake a strong uncontrolled passion for strength of character.
00:04:01.000But the truth is, whoever is mastered by their passions is actually weak.
00:04:06.000The real greatness of a person is measured by their powers to control their feelings, not let feelings control them.
00:04:14.000The strongest person, while they may be sensitive to mistreat, will yet restrain passion and forgive his enemies.
00:04:22.000Like how the third man in the story was striving for hidden treasure, we have to strive for a perfect character.
00:04:30.000That is our treasure. It's the most valuable treasure on earth.
00:04:34.000And all those things that might come our way, the obstacles, they're just there to make us stronger.
00:04:41.000We can't strengthen character without trials.
00:04:44.000Just like a gemstone, it starts out all rough, but after it's been polished by grinding away all the rough edges, then we start to see its real beauty.