Character Weakness

Last time we looked at why we shouldn’t try to overcome weaknesses in the abilities and talents that God gave us. This time we’ll look at why we can’t take that same tact when it comes to weaknesses in our character.


Unlike talents, where there isn’t a prescribed set for any given individual, there is a handbook on character, and there is a very definite list of traits that God has given us to have. What that means is that when we have a deficiency in character you have to address it; and it must be changed.

Character weaknesses affect us unlike a talent weakness. God has given us talents to serve in certain places within His Kingdom. Character is something God wants everyone to have, and without it not only are we not obedient to Him, but no one is going to follow us, limiting what we can do for God’s Kingdom.

The thing about character weaknesses, though, is this: they are part and parcel of being a sinful human being. And that means that we can’t beat them on our own. It also means we all have them.

As we are leading in our organizations, and as we are raising up new leaders, we are going to have to identify and eradicate these weaknesses. Our obedience depends on it, our organizations are depending on it, and our students are depending on it.

Here’s a few pointers:

1. Identify your weaknesses. Chances are you probably are already well aware of where you fall short in the character arena, but you may also have some weaknesses that would blindside you. There are two ways that you can ascertain where character weakness has started choking the ministry life out of you:

a. A trusted peer-ask a trusted friend to gracefully share with you where they think you’re character might be coming up short. Prayerfully prepare for this, it’s not a fun experience. There will be times when you will have wished you didn’t ask.

b. Prayer-Pray that God would show you where your weaknesses are. He will, because He wants you to confess your sin and repent.

2. Set up better disciplines. From a knowledge of your own weaknesses, sometimes you can overcome them with discipline. There are some situations that you react badly to, and so you avoid those situations or through knowing about the weakness, control it. However, when you can’t take care of it(and that’s more than often the case)…

3. Pray. God will work with your character weaknesses. Through His word, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines He can and will change your life.

As we are bringing up the next generation of leaders, let them see this process in you. Be transparent with your students about your character weaknesses, and encourage them to do the same. Pray for each other. If your students are well versed in their own weaknesses before they allow them to screw up their ministries, they will be that much more prepared for leadership.



Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,

Matt

Character Development is Hard

Having just finished “The Character of Leadership” by Jeff Iorg, my mind has been wondering around thinking of ways to educate character into my students. I hate to say it, but it’s hard. It’s hard because you can’t make someone else behave in a certain way (and if you do you’re as bad as the person who wasn’t acting right in the first place); it’s hard because we don’t get to spend a lot of time with our students as opposed to other influences on their lives. It’s hard because behavior modification is easier than character development.


I truly believe that you lead out of who you are. If that’s the case, then character development is one of the more important things that we will do for our youth, and especially our young leaders. Its importance cannot be understated.

Here are a couple of ideas when it comes to developing character that I’ve been mulling over:

1. Partner with parents. Parents are the main influence on students, whether they’ll admit to it or not (actually, they have admitted to it. See “Real Teens” by George Barna). If we’re going to have any real impact on character development, it will have to be a multi-front fight. Make sure parents are on board with you.

2. Constantly harp on Character. Maybe harp is a bad term. Don’t nag them, but keep character issues in front of their face at all times. Talk with your students about their character. Do exercises that stretch their moral mental muscles.

3. Give them real moral dilemmas to work through and figure out. Make them as real and as relevant as possible.

4. Cultivate a rich inner life in your students. A student who is out of their bible and not spending time in prayer is not going to develop biblical character. Help your students come up with good spiritual disciplines and then help them stick to them.



Question: How are you developing character in your students? What is working, and what isn’t?



Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,

Matt

Youth Leadership Resume: Humility

Humility. I’m not real good at that. I tend to go the other way: rampant, arrogant pride. So does most of the world.


Leadership goes hand in hand with pride. After all, you’re in charge. You’re the man (or the woman). You get it done. With all of that, it’s no wonder that most leaders do not show any humility. Even though this makes sense, it’s not the way it should be.

At its core, humility is recognizing who and what you are. If you are a Christian, then you know that everything you are comes from God. If everything you are comes from God, there shouldn’t be any room for pride, but rather worship, praise, and thanksgiving.

Many leaders, even Christian leaders, seem not to make this distinction. A young Christian leader is going to need to learn humility early, and continue to work on it as they gain in respect, influence, and stature. The higher up they get, the more they will probably struggle with pride.

Pride is an easy trap to fall into, and the world expects high-placed leaders to be prideful. But imagine a group of leaders who gave glory to God for results rather than glory to themselves. Now that’s counter-cultural.

In the course of our leadership development, we have to address humility. Humility, in its naked form, shows just what a person believes about God and themselves.

Question: how are you teaching humility to your students?

Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,

Matt