It's All About 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

 Suffering --> Perseverance --> Character

Why, oh why, does it have to be in this order?

As days are added to my life, the Lord made me realize that He is after my character. Life is all about character. It's not about my skills. It's not about my knowledge. It's not about how much money I earn. It's not even about my reputation. 

I may be knowledgeable, but without character, I cannot live in victory. Now I understand how some people with no educational background far exceed those who have master's degree. They did not get it through magic. It's just that they suffered the same common sufferings people suffer everyday. But they just did not give up. And funny, most are not even Christians.

Why does it seem that they get God's promises of prosperity? Shouldn't I get those promises, being a co-heir with Christ?

So here I was, praying to God for financial independence, claiming the things He promised in the bible by faith. But the whole heaven knows how I mumbled, grumbled, and complained about my job and generally about my life.

As I write this, I imagine my Jesus laughing at me. " I thought you want to have a victorious life! So here I am leading you through the desert on your way to the Promised Land. Hahaha!"   


Sigh. The Lord is abounding with patience. Good thing God is not like my impatient self. Else, He would have fed me to the desert snakes. 

"I am giving you one of the best trainings I can ever give...the Never-Give-Up training. Many people run from it. But I, God, am the Master of this training. I also don't give up in training my people not to give up. If you fail the test, there will always be next time. If you run from the test, I will make sure the same test is waiting on your hiding place."

Ang dating sakin nito, God will never give up on me because He so wants me to live in prosperity. How cool is that? I found out that all along, God had me where He wants me. Every time I experience hardships, trials and injustice in my office, He is refining my character or basically how I think and respond to life on a daily basis.


 He is watching me. He is watching you. How will you respond to every situation? This makes up one's character. Not character in relation to identity, but character in relation to good morals, right conduct, and integrity. Because truth is, God will never promote us to a place that our character cannot sustain us.


If you have reached the top too early (through 'luck' or wicked means), when adversities of top level strike, you will fall down hard like a shooting star.

It is amazing to find out that when the Israelites reached the Promised Land, their lives weren't easy-easy as they thought it would be. They were to fight more high-level battles. Same with us. When God promotes us, our trials, problems and adversities get promoted as well. 


All these sufferings we are encountering, they are instruments by God to build in us a character like Jesus. Calm, cool, loving, wise but fierce, righteous and holy. 


That's why one day, if we diligently seek the Lord, we will become the new Henry Sy's of the nation. But, the only difference is, we shall be rooted in Christ, established in righteousness and justice and love that the whole world will marvel at what the God of Ryan (your name) has done for him and through him. 


Right now, let the rich who is not rooted in the Lord get more money. At His timing, we will be recipients of the wealth transfer the Lord is about bring. For it says in the word:

 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. -Proverbs 13:22

 ^{I cannot believe I'm saying this but "I thank you Lord for letting me experience trials in my life, in my office and in my family. You are truly behind the scenes, working out your promises."}

^{Now I understand why James wrote this once complicated verse.}

 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:1-4