This character and competency (skills) matrix is useful to chart our growth as disciples in these areas. Character is the foundation. Without good and growing character, we will not be effective in our disciple-making and mission. Skill without character is very dangerous. Character with skill is limiting.
Character is directly related to our growth in God. As we become more godly and Christlike, through prayer, service, and repentance from sin, our character increases. We move from "limited" to "fruitful" in disciple-making and mission as we acquire more competency. As our character grows, we become more fruitful.
To be effective, we must have high character. But character must be combined with competency. Competency by itself will leave us irrelevant, or even dangerous. The bottom left quadrant describes someone who wants attention through competency but who does not have character to achieve results. The bottom right quadrant describes a manipulator, someone who uses their competencies to obtain results for themselves.
Two examples of this matrix in action are the kings, Saul and David. Saul had the appearance of a king, but not the character. His lack of godly character constantly lead others away from God through his sin. He had high competency but low character. He was spiritually dangerous.
David, on the other hand, was a man after God's own heart. He combined high character with growing growing to lead people. His "mighty men," who were willing to risk their own lives for him, were the fruit of his high competency and character. During his time of low character--his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah--he dropped into the lower right quadrant as his competency became dangerous and he had Uriah killed.
We must focus first on character, and then add skill and competency as we grow in godliness. Paul's prayer for the Colossian believers indicates the growth we need, in both character--"increasing in the knowledge of God"--and skill--"bearing fruit in every good work" (1:9-14, esp. 10).
What are you doing to grow in godly character? How are repenting from sin and growing in the knowledge of God? How are you using your current competency to bear fruit? How are you growing in competency?
Character is directly related to our growth in God. As we become more godly and Christlike, through prayer, service, and repentance from sin, our character increases. We move from "limited" to "fruitful" in disciple-making and mission as we acquire more competency. As our character grows, we become more fruitful.
To be effective, we must have high character. But character must be combined with competency. Competency by itself will leave us irrelevant, or even dangerous. The bottom left quadrant describes someone who wants attention through competency but who does not have character to achieve results. The bottom right quadrant describes a manipulator, someone who uses their competencies to obtain results for themselves.
Two examples of this matrix in action are the kings, Saul and David. Saul had the appearance of a king, but not the character. His lack of godly character constantly lead others away from God through his sin. He had high competency but low character. He was spiritually dangerous.
David, on the other hand, was a man after God's own heart. He combined high character with growing growing to lead people. His "mighty men," who were willing to risk their own lives for him, were the fruit of his high competency and character. During his time of low character--his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah--he dropped into the lower right quadrant as his competency became dangerous and he had Uriah killed.
We must focus first on character, and then add skill and competency as we grow in godliness. Paul's prayer for the Colossian believers indicates the growth we need, in both character--"increasing in the knowledge of God"--and skill--"bearing fruit in every good work" (1:9-14, esp. 10).
What are you doing to grow in godly character? How are repenting from sin and growing in the knowledge of God? How are you using your current competency to bear fruit? How are you growing in competency?
