Character vs. Reputation

Make no mistake about it, you can fool people. It happens all the time. But there are two people you will never fool: God and yourself. There is a huge difference your Character and your Reputation. Check out these definitions:

• Reputation - what others believe to be true about you.
• Character - what is true about you.

Should you strive to have a good reputation? Yes! Check out Proverbs 22:1. As a Christians, it is very important to have a good reputation, but it is not more important than having character.

Your reputation is formed by what you do when people are watching. Your character is formed by what you do when no one is watching.

Some questions for you:

• Do you act different around your friends' parents?
• Do you act different around your Life Group Leader or Youth Pastor?
• What kind of words come out of your mouth when you are trying to be "cool?"
• Are you more concerned with what others THINK of you, or what is actually true about you?

The word INTEGRITY is a synonym for the word CHARACTER. The best way to describe a person who has integrity is to say that their public life and private life are the same.

Is your private life the same as your public life? If not, you might fool the world, but you won't fool the Lord... and you wont fool yourself...

"The best pillow is a clear conscience."