By Dr. Rebekah McCloud

Many of you probably saw the movie the Black Panther. According to Box Office Mojo, the film grossed more than $1 Billion and over 177 million tickets were sold worldwide. You could say the movie was a box office blockbuster. Woven throughout the plot, drama, twists and turns were many lessons that we can apply to our daily lives. I want to share what I think was the most important of them all; character.

The dictionary defines character as, “the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.” As a steward, we must be of good character. Let’s start off with what the movie teaches us about having character.[1]  There’s a scene in the movie where the Black Panther asks his father for advice on how to be a good ruler. His father’s response is “you are a good man with a good heart. And it’s hard for a good man to be king.” However, his ex-girlfriend tells him, “You get to decide what kind of king you are going to be.”

Stewards, there’s the lesson, we get to decide. We should not let anyone dissuade us or tell us otherwise; the choice is ours. We must take guard and not let the voices whisper, “If I was you, I’d do this or that.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.” Let’s keep the voices out of our ears and stand up for our own beliefs and convictions. Let’s stand up for the King! Amen.

The Bible, and with all certainty, you can say it’s a blockbuster, is filled with people of good character:

• Ruth—was called a “worthy woman.” (Ruth 3:11)
• Hananiah—was called a “faithful and God-fearing man.” (Nehemiah 7:2)
• Job—was called a “blameless and upright man.” (Job 2:3)
• David—was called a “man after God’s own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14)

So how do we—everyday, ordinary people—develop character? First, by controlling our thoughts. Philippians 4:8 tells us, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Amen.

If we keep our minds stayed on Jesus—he’s true, he’s honorable, he’s just, he’s pure, he’s lovely, he’s commendable, he’s excellent, and he’s worthy of our praise. If we keep our minds stayed on him, evil cannot even get a toehold.

Secondly, we can develop character by practicing Christian virtues. 2 Peter 1:5-6 says, “make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness.”

Stewards, I believe we can practice these things: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness and godliness. We can do these one by one and day by day. Now, let’s be real, some of us will need more practice in certain areas than others. I’m not going to ask anyone to raise their hand or turn to their neighbor. We all know what we need. But Grace, remember, with God, all things are possible. For I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. For God says there is nothing too hard for me. Amen!

Finally, we can also develop character by guarding our hearts. [2] Matthew 15:18-20 says, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.”

Ephesians 4:31–32 instructs us to, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” The song says, “give me a clean heart… and I’ll follow thee.” Amen.

Proverbs 4:23-26 encourages us by saying, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.”  Lord, order our steps.

Controlling our thoughts, practicing Christian virtues and guarding our hearts are keys to developing good character. When we know that we know that we know who we are and whose we are; and when we know we are a good man or good woman, with a good heart, then we know, without a shadow of a doubt, the Lord has made a good choice in entrusting us as good stewards to care for the things of his kingdom, to follow his teachings and to be fishers of men. Amen. Won’t it be grand!

_________________________

[1] Adapted from the following blog: TCK on a Mission (2015). 5 Leadership Lessons from the Black Panther at http://tayorockson.com/blog/5-leadership-lessons-from-the-black-panther

[2] Adapted from, What does the Bible say about Christian character? at https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-character.html.

 

6/24/18