What Matters Most

Perseverance. Integrity. Patience. Grace. They are all a part of your character development regimen, and God cares more about your character than anything you can ever accomplish. He will go to great lengths to refine your character, because in the end it’s your character that carries eternal significance. Talents and abilities are gifts from God, no doubt about it. They’re the tools He gives us to fulfill His purposes in our lives. But without the foundation of a godly character, even the most remarkable talent can become a stumbling block.

Proverbs 22:1 (NIV) reminds us, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” A “good name” refers to one’s reputation, which is rooted in character. God values who you are more than what you do.

Think about King David. He was anointed as a young shepherd, and he developed a great talent as a warrior and leader. Yet it wasn’t his talent that qualified him to be king – it was his heart. In 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV), God says to Samuel, “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” David’s character, shaped by his time in the fields with God, was what made him a man after God’s own heart. It wasn’t his ability to defeat Goliath or lead an army; it was his humility, his integrity, and his faith in God, even when others let him down.

The truth is, God is more interested in refining your character than in showcasing your talents. I’ve found the refining process is uncomfortable, but completely necessary for our growth. James 1:2-4 tells us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Challenges and disappointments in life, often because people let us down, are what God uses to build us up and shape us into the person He wants us to be.

I believe God allows difficulties in our lives not to break us but to refine us. Just as gold is refined by fire, God wants to refine our character through the fires of life’s challenges. When we go through tough times, our true character is revealed. It’s in those moments that God works on our heart, purging away impurities like pride, selfishness, and fear. Our sufferings aren’t meaningless; they produce something of eternal value. It’s producing character that will carry us not just through this life but into eternity.

In a world that often values talent over character, we have to remember that God’s economy operates differently. He cares more about who we are becoming than what we are accomplishing. Our character is the only thing we will take with us into eternity, and it’s the one thing that God is continually working to refine.

Todd Mullins joins James and Betty this Monday on LIFE TODAY. Excerpted from Don’t Let Doubt Take You Out by Todd Mullins. Copyright ©2025 by Todd Mullins. Published by Charisma House, an imprint of Charisma Media. Used by permission.