Operational Definitions of 49 Character Qualities
- Alertness vs. Unawareness
- Being aware of that which is taking place around me so I can have the right response to it(Mark 14:38)
- Attentiveness vs. Unconcern
- Showing the worth of a person by giving undivided attention to his words and emotions(Hebrews 2:1)
- Availability vs. Self-centeredness
- Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I am serving(Philippians 2:20–21)
- Boldness vs. Fearfulness
- Confidence that what I have to say or do is true and right and just in the sight of God(Acts 4:29)
- Cautiousness vs. Rashness
- Knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions (Proverbs 19:2)
- Compassion vs. Indifference
- Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others (I John 3:17)
- Contentment vs. Covetousness
- Realizing that God has provided everything I need for my present happiness (I Timothy 6:8)
- Creativity vs. Underachievement
- Approaching a need, a task, an idea from a new perspective (Romans 12:2)
- Decisiveness vs. Double-mindedness
- The ability to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God (James 1:5)
- Deference vs. Rudeness
- Limiting my freedom in order not offend the tastes of those whom God has called me to serve(Romans 14:21)
- Dependability vs. Inconsistency
- Fulfilling what I consented to do even if it means unexpected sacrifice (Psalm 15:4)
- Determination vs. Faintheartedness
- Purposing to accomplish God’s goals in God’s time regardless of the opposition(II Timothy 4:7–8)
- Diligence vs. Slothfulness
- Visualizing each task as a special assignment from the Lord and using all my energies to accomplish it (Colossians 3:23)
- Discernment vs. Judgment
- The God-given ability to understand why things happen (I Samuel 16:7)
- Discretion vs. Simplemindedness
- The ability to avoid words, actions, and attitudes which could result in undesirable consequences (Proverbs 22:3)
- Endurance vs. Giving up
- The inward strength to withstand stress to accomplish God’s best (Galatians 6:9)
- Enthusiasm vs. Apathy
- Expressing with my soul the joy of my spirit (I Thessalonians 5:16,19)
- Faith vs. Presumption
- Visualizing what God intends to do in a given situation and acting in harmony with it(Hebrews 11:1)
- Flexibility vs. Resistance
- Not setting my affections on ideas or plans which could be changed by God or others(Colossians 3:2)
- Forgiveness vs. Rejection
- Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and allowing God to love them through me (Ephesians 4:32)
- Generosity vs. Stinginess
- Realizing that all I have belongs to God and using it for His purposes (II Corinthians 9:6)
- Gentleness vs. Harshness
- Showing personal care and concern in meeting the need of others (I Thessalonians 2:7)
- Gratefulness vs. Unthankfulness
- Making known to God and others in what ways they have benefited my life (I Corinthians 4:7)
- Hospitality vs. Loneliness
- Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, and spiritual refreshment with those whom God brings into my life (Hebrews 13:2)
- Humility vs. Pride
- Recognizing that it is actually God and others who are responsible for the achievements in my life (James 4:6)
- Initiative vs. Unresponsiveness
- Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it (Romans 12:21)
- Joyfulness vs. Self-pity
- The spontaneous enthusiasm of my spirit when my soul is in fellowship with the Lord(Psalm 16:11)
- Justice vs. Fairness
- Personal responsibility to God’s unchanging laws (Micah 6:8)
- Love vs. Selfishness
- Giving to others’ basic needs without having as my motive personal reward(I Corinthians 13:3)
- Loyalty vs. Unfaithfulness
- Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to God and to those whom He has called me to serve (John 15:13)
- Meekness vs. Anger
- Yielding my personal rights and expectations to God (Psalm 62:5)
- Obedience vs. Willfulness
- Freedom to be creative under the protection of divinely appointed authority(II Corinthians 10:5)
- Orderliness vs. Disorganization
- Preparing myself and my surroundings so I will achieve the greatest efficiency(I Corinthians 14:40)
- Patience vs. Restlessness
- Accepting a difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it(Romans 5:3–4)
- Persuasiveness vs. Contentiousness
- Guiding vital truths around another’s mental roadblocks (II Timothy 2:24)
- Punctuality vs. Tardiness
- Showing high esteem for other people and their time (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
- Resourcefulness vs. Wastefulness
- Wise use of that which others would normally overlook or discard (Luke 16:10)
- Responsibility vs. Unreliability
- Knowing and doing what both God and others are expecting from me (Romans 14:12)
- Reverence vs. Disrespect
- Awareness of how God is working through the people and events in my life to produce the character of Christ in me (Proverbs 23:17–18)
- Security vs. Anxiety
- Structuring my life around that which is eternal and cannot be destroyed or taken away(John 6:27)
- Self-Control vs. Self-indulgence
- Instant obedience to the initial promptings of God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:24–25)
- Sensitivity vs. Callousness
- Exercising my senses so I can perceive the true spirit and emotions of those around me(Romans 12:15)
- Sincerity vs. Hypocrisy
- Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives (I Peter 1:22)
- Thoroughness vs. Incompleteness
- Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected(Proverbs 18:15)
- Thriftiness vs. Extravagance
- Not letting myself or others spend that which is not necessary (Luke 16:11)
- Tolerance vs. Prejudice
- Acceptance of others as unique expressions of specific character qualities in varying degrees of maturity (Philippians 2:2)
- Truthfulness vs. Deception
- Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts (Ephesians 4:25)
- Virtue vs. Impurity
- The moral excellence and purity of spirit that radiate from my life as I obey God’s Word(II Peter 1:3)
- Wisdom vs. Natural Inclinations
- Seeing and responding to life’s situations from God’s frame of reference (Proverbs 9:10)