October 12, 2009

Character Is Noble

Written by Boyd Bailey

Character Is Noble… “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” Proverbs 31:10

Noble character comes from an inner conviction to be like Jesus. It is compelling because it has Christ as its model and motivation. Noble character’s uncommon behavior sticks out as strange to the unschooled in Scripture, but to the Lord it is desired and to His mature disciples it is admired and emulated. Noble character needs no introduction for its reputation for doing what’s right precedes its presence. Indeed it is extremely valuable.

What price can you place on your noble character? How has its value compounded over your decades of obedience to Christ’s commands? Yes there have been failures and indiscretions along the way, but all in all you have remained true to the truth. By God’s grace you have consistently followed Christ. Your faithfulness has caused your integrity to grow over the years and solicit respect. Boaz complimented Ruth in this way, “All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character” (Ruth 3:11b).

Noble character is attractive because it is defined by the timeless truths found in God’s Word. It is the process of you personally discovering and validating His principles, which produces a rock solid life of character. This is what the early followers of Jesus exemplified, “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). Noble character is assertive in seeking to understand and apply Christ’s code of conduct. It has abundant energy around the eternal.

What price tag does God place on your character and on the character of those who influence you? It’s when your financial net worth decreases that the net worth of your noble character needs to increase. What about those around you who display noble character? Your spouse? Your children? Your Pastor? Your staff? Perhaps you prayerfully ask, How can I honor and reward others for their noble character? Even ungodly leaders can bless noble character: “So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian” (Daniel 6:28).

Related Readings: Proverbs 12:4; Daniel 6:1-27; Romans 5:3-5; Hebrews 11:24-28

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