What is Character?

I find out that the definition of character is who you are when no one else is around. The wholeness of a person. In this Psalm David was concerned about the questions asked and answered in this Psalm.

 

O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

2  He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

and speaks truth in his heart;

3  who does not slander with his tongue

and does no evil to his neighbor,

nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

4  in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

but who honors those who fear the Lord;

who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

5  who does not put out his money at interest

and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved.

David lays out eight core values of a person of character.

1. “Works righteousness” (v. 2); those who are in Christ does the right thing, that is, “God’s thing,” no matter how great the cost.
2.  “Walks uprightly” (v. 2); we deal with personal mistakes with integrity. A person of integrity admits mistakes and makes corrections and restitutions.
3.  “Speaks truth in his heart” (v. 2) ;a person of character delights in honesty, guards the honesty of his heart, and takes delight in what is honest, and genuine.
4.  “does not backbite with his tongue” (v. 3); person of character uses disciplined words and does not slander. Speak truth, bring life, strength, and joy to others by their words.
5.  “Honors those who fear the Lord” (v. 4) ; defend others who are righteous, whether a friend or not, a person of character comes to their aid, regardless of the cost.
6.  “Swears to his own hurt and does not change” (v. 4); when we say “yes” we mean “yes,” and when we say “no,” we mean “no.”
7.  “Does not put money at usury” (v.5 ); usury means charging people interest on money loaned. We don’t use money to get ahead or to gain at the expense of others. We understand what we have is a gift of God and needs to be used to accomplish God’s purposes.
8. Does not “take a bribe against the innocent” (v. 5); don’t use people to meet emotional, physical, or financial needs. A person of character treats everyone as the sons and daughters of God.