How Suffering Produces Character
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” Romans 5: 3, 4.
This passage tells us perseverance produces character. This is a simple principle. To read the text for context, click here.
Obedience in itself is not usually difficult. The Lord tells us to do things that are not usually complicated. Things like give, forgive, spend time with Him, control our temper, lust, spending, eating.
Often these things aren’t hard to do for a while, or when we’re not being tested.
The Hard Part
The difficult part is to continue to be obedient, even when it gets hard. Even when we don’t feel like it. Even when it involves sacrifice.
It’s not as easy when it doesn’t seem to make a difference, or no one else is doing it, or it seems counterproductive.
It’s not hard to obey for a little while, when it doesn’t involve sacrifice or pain.
It’s the Persevering
But it’s the persevering, even under adverse conditions, that produces character.
Obedience won’t produce character if we only do it once in a while when we feel like it, or it’s easy.
We have to persevere under unfavorable circumstances in order to develop character.
But what is character?
I think you would agree it would include doing the right thing consistently, no matter how we feel, or who else is doing it. And in spite of the pain and sacrifice involved.
It’s enduring in obedience, being consistent and persistent. It’s being faithful and patient.
Doing what’s right on occasion, when the circumstances are favorable isn’t character. And it doesn’t produce it either.
To develop it, we must continue in obedience, and be stable.
Suffering Doesn’t Always Produce Character
This passage tells us suffering produces perseverance, which produces character. But this isn’t true of everyone.
It’s only true for those whose seed is sown in deep soil.
According to the parable of the Sower Jesus told, the seed sown in shallow soil is scorched and withered by the sun:
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. . . Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root” Mathew 13: 4-6.
Jesus interprets the parable for his disciples. The hot sun represents suffering, and causes the seed to die:
“. . . The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away” Mathew 13: 20, 21.
But it should be true of Christians. Our passage in Romans seems to convey the idea that a true Christian gains perseverance from his or her suffering. He doesn’t allow the seed, which is the word, to shrivel and die.
A Christian, who has been justified by faith and has peace with God has deep soil (soil represents the heart). He or she allows suffering to produce perseverance in obedience rather than to give up obedience.
If you are a Christian, you have areas where you persevere in obedience in suffering. And develop character in that area.
But let’s be honest. We also have areas where suffering causes us to give up the struggle. And the seed (the word of God) shrivels and dies in that area.
Suffering Produces Character, but What Is Character?
How can we define character, then? Admittedly this is a bit arbitrary because the definition in Strong’s Concordance of the Bible isn’t particularly helpful here.
I believe if someone perseveres in obedience in major areas, they have character.
Maybe you know of a different definition. I’d love to hear what you think.
For more thoughts on how perseverance builds character, see:
Was Jesus Tempted or Tested in the Wilderness, or
If Your Heart is Hard, You’ll Give Up When Life Gets Hard
For another recent post, see The Trial of Jesus, Injustice God’s Vehicle.
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