Don’t Affirm Talent Over Character

Talent is a wonderful thing, and I’d love to have a little myself. But the question is, does talent determine greatness? Certainly, we honor men and women with remarkable talent, and in most cases, the culture worships extraordinarily talented people.

But greatness is not solely determined by talent. This means that even if you don’t consider yourself exceptionally talented, you still have the potential to achieve greatness.

In other words, we should never affirm people’s talent more than their character.

You may have the talent, but do you have the will to act? Do you have the will to make the hard choices? The ethical choices? The sacrificial choices?

People with far less talent will often do better because they have the will and the discipline to succeed.

You have the power to develop your character and willpower, and in doing so, you can shape a future of greatness.

Read more from Phil Cooke »

This article originally appeared on PhilCooke.com and is reposted here by permission.

Phil Cooke
Phil Cookehttp://cookemediagroup.com

Phil Cooke is a filmmaker, media consultant, and founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and Nashville. His latest book is Church on Trial: How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission, and Reputation During a Crisis. Find out more at PhilCooke.com.

An Invitation to Pray

Praying specific can become an exciting adventure and partnership with God– truly seeking to pray the heart, mind and will of the Father!

Expect to Be Different

Avoiding interaction with the world will ensure not only that the world dies but that your church will too. This is the way salt works: it is either used proactively or it becomes destructive to the one who has it.

The Strengths of Smaller Healthy Churches

Small churches can create a family environment for disconnected people if they lean into the built-in intimacy they already have.