It’s just a little yellow sticky note with a quote on it. It’s been sitting on my various computers for almost twenty years. I’ve moved it each time I upgraded my computer—so much so that the “sticky” part doesn’t work, so I tape it on the computer where I can see it again and again. What is the quote?

There is nothing more dangerous than a small character in a big assignment.

It’s from my spiritual mentor, the late Henry Blackaby. I keep it to remind me that God honors character in our lives. But it goes even further. It is often said that character and integrity boil down to doing the right thing when no one else is watching. Jesus reminds us that those actions won’t remain secret forever.

For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all. Luke 8:17 NLT

We are seeing that played out in news stories again and again, and it is damaging to the cause of Christ and for our culture.

The legendary basketball coach John Wooden drew a comparison between character and reputation. It’s a good reminder.

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

Episcopal clergyman Phillips Brooks, the author of the Christmas song “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” helped us understand how to build character—one brick at a time. He said, “Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.”

It is in those quiet, alone moments that we are tempted to do the things that will eat away at our character. Eve was alone with the serpent when she took that fatal bite. The Lord was not around when Adam followed suit. Those “alone times” are the very times we need to guard ourselves. Our character is at stake. And, as with Adam and Eve, the repercussions can be devastating.

Is there a simple definition for the character of a person? For the believer, it is this: Christ-likeness. Listen to this from Oswald Chambers:

“The expression of Christian character is not good doing, but God-likeness. If the Spirit of God has transformed you within, you will exhibit Divine characteristics in your life, not good human characteristics.”

My friend Mike Huckabee wrote a book many years ago when the topic of character was being bantered about in the political realm. The title says much — Character IS the Issue.

It should be the issue for us in Christian leadership. Make character…your character…matter.

God’s best,