Wanted: Good Character

As a ministry leader, both with the young adult ministry and the worship band, I find myself often in a position of having to judge a person’s character. Good leaders have to delegate responsibilities. Delegation is only fruitful, however, if the people you choose can and will actually follow through with their assignments – aka, have the kind of character necessary see it through. 

Just yesterday I had to “fire” someone from a ministry responsibility I had given them. They probably didn’t see it that way, thankfully, but I did. Because to me, ministering IS our full-time job. And so are all the responsibilities acquainted with it. It’s not OK to do it half-heartedly, just like it wouldn’t be at a paying job.

In an attempt to be more successful at the delegation thing, I’ve had to reevaluate the type of person I will ask to help with things and be a part of the two ministries. I’m looking for people with character.

So, what is character exactly? The Miriam-Webster dictionary defines character as someone who demonstrates moral excellence. I think that’s pretty accurate. Excellence is a key word. It leaves no room for partial participation, “if and when I feel like it” attitudes and excuse-making. Excellence is thorough, hard-working and confident.

What does good character look like? I think I have some traits of good character pinned down.

• Reliability – when they say they’ll do it, they’ll really do it. Within a reasonable amount of time. When they say they’ll be there, they’re there. On time.
• Consistency – this, to me, goes along with reliability. How often a person is reliable. Are they going to show 50% of the time or 100%? Are lateness and excuses frequent or rare?
• Humility – you can’t serve well without humility. You definitely can’t serve excellently without it. Humility breaks open the pride that will sit back and wait for everyone else to do your job. It instills a desire to serve.
• Hard Work - boy, people are NOT taught how to work hard these days. I’ve seen far too many people sit around and watch everyone else do the heavy lifting lately and it’s sickening. We must push ourselves to work hard. Manual labor is what are hands and feet were made for. If you can do the work yourself, then do it yourself!
• Teachability – This is a mega soapbox for me. I’ve blogged on it many times. Here are my feelings on this wonderful, wonderful trait.
• Thorough – does the job whole-heartedly. Doesn’t do “just enough” to get by, but fully and completely.
• Self-sacrificing – this is probably the outward demonstration of inner humility. Humility inside drives self-sacrifice on the outside. Putting in the extra labor and hours it takes to do a job is a sacrifice of self.

The Proverbs are full of verses on these traits. The wise person values each of these and exercises them regularly. And the person who exercises these is the person that is successful in all they set out to do. Good character is a treasure.