CHARACTER VERSUS REPUTATION by Kathrina Blossom Wilcox

Pacific Press Publishing Company · MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA · Feb 14, 1906

CHARACTER VERSUS REPUTATION.

By Kathrina Blossom Wilcox

"WHAT is he worth?" is a question that is often asked in this age of the world when the large majority are clamoring for wealth and position.

And "What are you worth?" is a question which should receive the earnest attention of every individual, and especially of the young—not in money or property, not in position or prominence, but in character. Our character is what we really are—that which determines our true worth.

Reputation is not character, as many people seem to think. It is only what people think of us, not what we really are—man's opinion of us, not God's; for "man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart."

Men may speak evil of us, they may prejudice others against us, but they can not injure our character. If we are not guilty, "the good can well afford to wait" God's own good time.

Our Saviour when upon this earth was "despised and rejected of men," evil-spoken-of, backbitten, persecuted, forsaken by His own disciples, tried, condemned, and crucified with two thieves, and still His character stands out in all its spotless purity—"the One altogether lovely," "the Chiefest among ten thousand."

And so with His followers. We who are commissioned to bear the last message of mercy to a fallen world, must not look for, or seek, the favor of men. We must form a character strong and true like our perfect Pattern. We can be men and women of integrity and uprightness, so that our associates will be bound to respect us because we are true to the principles we hold to be right.

Let us put into our character-building, not wood, hay, and stubble, but gold, silver, and precious stones, and build so carefully that our structure may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Does it not behoove us, as young people and especially in view of the trying times about us and before us—to tear down the weaker materials, build up the old waste places, and study the Word of His grace, which is able to build us up and give us an eternal inheritance among all them which are sanctified? KATHRINA BLOSSOM WILCOX.