Image: Marco Bianchetti | Unsplash

They say you reveal your character, not when things are going well, but when the chips are down.

Not when everyone’s watching, but when no one sees what you do.

That’s true.

But it’s only part of the truth.

A Reversal Of Character

Some people seem to have the character to step up and do the right things when life gets hard and the need becomes severe. But when things are going well? They relax, not just emotionally, but morally and ethically.

It’s the same with those in the public eye. Some hold a moral face to the world, while behaving abominably in private. Others seem to revel in public character traits that are, at best questionable, and sometimes outright sinful – all while behaving honorably in their relationships and personal habits.

None of this is universal, thankfully. There have always been people who behave with integrity in private and in public, when things are easy and when they’re hard.

The Challenge Of Comfort

As Christians, this moral confusion shouldn’t surprise us. After all, church history shows that we tend to behave far better under persecution than when we have position and power.

Fame, wealth and comfort are as much a challenge to the church’s faithfulness and holiness as obscurity, poverty and persecution.

This should be a constant caution to us. A big platform and abundant resources have some wonderful advantages, to be sure. But we must always stay alert. Security and affluence can cause us to become comfortable and compromised.

Integrity Matters More Than Platform

Recently, we’ve had far too many reminders of the challenges inherent in keeping a strong character when the spotlight is on and the ministry is growing.

When we’re not guarding our hearts, minds and morals, the spotlight and the shadows can be equally dangerous.

This is why our prayer and our passion must always be more about our integrity than our platform.

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