How Do You Maintain Godly Character?

...When your boss has none? You may have a boss who is focused on production, not character; profit, not integrity; corporate image, not people. Your boss may push you to conform to the bad behavior of others employees. When business/social obligations arise, you may be under pressure to be right in the middle of party behavior that violates your conscience. Could be, in your work place, honesty is not highly valued.

When your spouse is no help? Some do not have the ideal mate. Worse, there are wives whose husbands are hostile to the Lord. Therefore, all their commitments to the Lord are discouraged. There are cases where this works the other way. Husbands want to be Christians but their wives rebel. Marriage should be one place where partners value their common faith and support the local church with mutual faith. It’s tough when this isn’t happening.

When stress is killing you? Coping with issues of health, finances, family dynamics, job, house maintenance, car trouble, and unexpected events can create a climate of pressure the devil can use against us. It may seem that you cannot genuinely serve the Lord, attend services, read your Bible and pray. Too many other things are going on that require immediate attention. Then this becomes a way of life. Something is always going on, so the Lord’s call to your life is permanently put in the background. Eventually it is dismissed altogether.

The answer is, you put your trust in God, keep your life centered in Christ and read daily what the Holy Spirit has given to you in writing. This builds up your character and keeps you constantly strong and ready for the future. If one of the best predictors of future behavior is past behavior, saturate today with God, and be ready for tomorrow and eternity.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord, (1 Cor. 15:58).