Human foibles and character faults are easy to detect.  The problem is that we see the shortcomings of others more readily than we do our own.

Pick up a daily newspaper and there’s plenty of evidence that human character leaves a lot to be desired.  There are accusations of bullying and abuse.  There are revelations of extortion and corruption.

But why bother with the newspapers if we want to see character faults?  Look around you!  There’s the strident voice in the office of the young man who always wants to be the centre of attention; or the critical young woman in the workshop whose always ready to criticise anything and everything.  There’s the fellow on the sports team whose language is always rude and crude; or the lady in the shop who always has something to moan about.  And the sad part is that often such folk lack self-awareness.  But then, as I said, we too readily see other people’s problems but not our own.

When it comes to character faults I make no exception for Christians and church-goers.  Some of the problems I just mentioned can also be found to a greater or lesser extent in any church family that you care to mention.  The bumper sticker put it well: “Christians are not perfect, just forgiven”.  I readily admit that under God I too am still a ‘work in progress’.

However I also want to add that when Jesus comes into someone’s life things do change – and I’ve seen that change in character often over the years.  I could tell you about the clerk in my office; a foul-mouthed man whom many avoided.  After his conversion he became a caring, compassionate man whom many sought out for advice.  I could tell you about the middle aged woman, a real pessimist who could never maintain a relationship for long.  After Jesus came into her life she was a different person, full of optimism in all the ups and downs of life.

British writer, C.S. Lewis once made the point that the issue is not that a Christian’s character is better than a non-Christian’s character; rather it’s whether someone’s character is better for being a Christian than otherwise.  One of the lovely things about the Christian faith is that God’s Holy Spirit produces in us, what the Bible calls, the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  That fruit of the Spirit changes our character.  It’s as if the Lord is doing a renovation job on us.

Recently at Men’s Shed during morning coffee a new-comer came and sat next to me.  It wasn’t long before I figured there was something different about this man.  His character stood out from the crowd and I sensed a man at peace with God and the world.  In the conversation that followed it soon came out that he was a follower of the crucified and risen Christ and it stood out in his character.

The Swiss Psychologist, Paul Tournier, in his book The Person Reborn uses a lovely illustration to explain the difference that the Lord makes in our lives and how that transforms our character.  He tells of a child who is given a beautiful and complex mechanical toy for Christmas.  His father says, “Come and I’ll show you how it works and how you can operate it.”  But the child tells the Dad that he wants to do it himself and takes it into his bedroom.  He tries to get it to do what it is supposed to do but doesn’t succeed so he gets frustrated and angry and in the process he damages it.  Finally, in defeat he admits his incompetence, gives it to his Dad and says, “Here, you can make it work.”  Tournier says, “We too have received a beautiful and very complicated toy: our life!”  He goes on to point out how we try and make it work on our own.  We think we’re having some success but then things begin to go wrong.  We have some personal and social disasters and the more we struggle to put things right the more they unravel.  At last, in desperation, we come to the Lord God and we say, “Take over; I can’t manage it on my own.”

If you are unhappy with what your life looks like maybe it’s time you went to Jesus and said to Him, “Take over, I can’t manage it on my own.”

John Westendorp