Anointing or Character Which Should be First?

 

There is the rhetorical question, “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” Is there a difference in what comes first, anointing or character?

In The Four Faces you could say Human had the anointing, but did he have the character? He was the king’s son, the heir to the throne, and the chosen successor. In the Old Testament kings and prophets were anointed when called. In the New Testament every believer is anointed by the Holy Spirit for your specific calling. Sometimes it takes years before you walk in your calling, other times it is much sooner.

Character comes with trials and tribulations, living life, hardships, circumstances and how you react to it.  Romans 5:1-5 tells us trials lead to patience and patience to character; character leads to hope in Christ.

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 NET)

Is there a difference in having character first or having the anointing first?

Anointing doesn’t automatically guarantee character.

Take Human for example. The anointing was there. He was the successor to the throne; the legitimate heir and son of the king. His father, the ruling king, was a wise king. He knew that his son would not automatically be a good king because he was entitled to the throne. Entitlement wasn’t what made a good king; it was the king’s character. Being king was a calling with great responsibility; your decisions changed, influenced and affected the lives of every individual in your realm; it even affected nations beyond the borders of your kingdom.

When the king asked Human what is his purpose, he was testing his son’s character. Did his son know why he was created? The answer would also reveal to the king to what extent his son was fit to be the next king. Did his son have the necessary character to rule in peace, in truth, to be just and to rule with integrity?

Human’s answer to the king’s question, and the subsequent response of his three friends – Eagle, Ox, and Lion – displayed that the anointing was there but the character was not. Therefore the Four Faces were sent on a journey through the kingdom to discover the answer to the question. The purpose was not only to discover the answer but to form their characters; to prepare and enable them for their calling and purpose in life.

Character is portrayed especially in your reaction during trials and tribulations, the way you handle a situation, your emotional response, your ability to overcome, and whether you endure with worship or in self-pity.

With character the anointing automatically follows, but with anointing there is not automatically character.

Which do you prefer to have first, character or anointing?

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The post Anointing or Character Which Should be First? appeared first on Retha Groenewald.

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