1. Operational Definitions of Character Qualities

2. TRUTHFULNESS vs. Deception
Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts
Ephesians 4:25 “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”

3. ALERTNESS vs. Unawareness
Being aware of that which is taking place around me so that I can have the right responses
Mark 14:38 “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”

4. SELF-CONTROL vs. Self-indulgence
Instant obedience to the initial promptings of God’s Spirit
Galatians 5:24-25 “And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also
walk in the Spirit.”

5. WISDOM vs. Natural Inclinations
Seeing and responding to life situations from God’s frame of reference
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

6. RESOURCEFULNESS vs. Wastefulness
Wise use of that which others would normally overlook or discard
Luke 16:10 “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”

7. ORDERLINESS vs. Disorganization
Preparing myself and my surroundings so that I will achieve the greatest efficiency
1 Corinthians 14:40 “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

8. ATTENTIVENESS vs. Unconcern
Showing the worth of a person by giving undivided attention to his words and emotions.
Hebrews 2:1 “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we
should let them slip.”

9. OBEDIENCE vs. Willfulness
Freedom to be creative under the protection of divinely appointed authority
2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every
thought to the obedience of Christ”

10. HOSPITALITY vs. Loneliness
Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, and spiritual refreshment with those God brings into my life
Hebrews 13:2 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

11. REVERENCE vs. Disrespect
Awareness of how God is working through the people and events in my life to produce the character of Christ
Proverbs 23:17-18 “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
For surely there is an end; and thine
expectation shall not be cut off.

12. DISCERNMENT vs. Judgment
The God-given ability to understand why things happen
1 Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

13. THRIFTINESS vs. Extravagance
Not letting myself or others spend that which is not necessary
Luke 16:11 “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”

14. INITIATIVE vs. Unresponsiveness
Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it
Romans 12:21 “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

15. SENSITIVITY vs. Callousness
Exercising my senses so that I can perceive the true spirit and emotions of those around me
Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

16. SINCERITY vs. Hypocrisy
Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives
I Peter 1:22 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure
heart fervently:”

17. GENEROSITY vs. Stinginess
Realizing that all I have belongs to God and using it for His purposes
2 Corinthians 9:6 “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

18. DILIGENCE vs. Slothfulness
Visualizing each task as a special assignment from the Lord and using all my energies to accomplish it
Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

19. FAITH vs. Presumption
Visualizing what God intends to do in a given situation and acting in harmony with it
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

20. CONTENTMENT vs. Covetousness
Realizing that God has provided everything that I need for my present happiness
1 Timothy 6:8 “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

21. RESPONSIBILITY vs. Unreliability
Knowing and doing what both God and others are expecting me to do
Romans 14:12 “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

22. JUSTICE vs. Fairness Personal responsibility to God’s unchanging laws
Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

23. VIRTUE vs. Impurity
The moral excellence and purity of spirit that radiate from my life as I obey God’s word
2 Peter 1:5 “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge”

24. JOYFULNESS vs. Self-pity
The spontaneous enthusiasm of my spirit when my soul is in fellowship with the Lord
Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

25. THOROUGHNESS vs. Incompleteness
Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected
Proverbs 18:15 “The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.”

26. DISCRETION vs. Simple-mindedness
The ability to avoid words, actions, and attitudes which result in undesirable consequences
Proverbs 22:3 “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”

27. PUNCTUALITY vs. Tardiness
Showing high esteem for other people and their time
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”

28. HUMILITY vs. Pride
Recognizing that God and others are actually responsible for the achievements in my life
James 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

29. COMPASSION vs. Indifference
Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others
1 John 3:17 “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”

30. 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 “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word”

31. FLEXIBILITY vs. Resistance
Not setting my affections on ideas or plans which could be changed by God or others
Colossians 3:2 “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

32. DEPENDABILITY vs. Inconsistency
Fulfilling what I consented to do even if it means unexpected sacrifice
Psalm 15:4 “In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.”

33. LOVE vs. Selfishness
Giving to others basic needs without having as my motive personal reward
1 Corinthians 13:3 “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

34. TOLERANCE vs. Prejudice
Acceptance of others as unique expressions of specific character qualities in varying degrees of maturity
Philippians 2:2 “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

35. DECISIVENESS vs. Double-mindedness
The ability to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God
James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

36. GENTLENESS vs. Harshness
Showing personal care and concern in meeting the needs of others
1 Thessalonians 2:7 “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children”

37. FORGIVENESS vs. Rejection
Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and allowing God to love them through me
Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

38. AVAILABILITY vs. Self-centeredness
Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to wishes of those I am serving
Philippians 2:20-21 “For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.”

39. SECURITY vs. Anxiety
Structuring my life around that which is eternal and cannot be destroyed or taken away
John 6:27 “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”

40. CREATIVITY vs. Under-achievement
Approaching a need, a task, an idea from a new perspective
Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

41. CAUTIOUSNESS vs. Rashness
Knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions
Proverbs 19:2 “Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.”

42. DETERMINATION vs. Faint-heartedness
Purposing to accomplish God’s goals in God’s timing regardless of the opposition
2 Timothy 4:7-8 “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of
David was raised from the dead
according to my gospel:”

43. DEFERENCE vs. Rudeness
Limiting my freedom in order not to offend the tastes of those God has called me to serve
Romans 14:21 “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”

44. PERSUASIVENESS vs. Contentiousness
Guiding vital truth around another’s mental roadblocks
2 Timothy 2:24 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient”

45. ENDURANCE vs. Giving-up
The inward strength to withstand stress to accomplish God’s best
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

46. PATIENCE vs. Restlessness
Accepting a difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it
Romans 5:3-4 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope”

47. ENTHUSIASM vs. Apathy Expressing with my spirit the joy of my soul
1 Thessalonians 5:16, 19 “Rejoice evermore. . . Quench not the Spirit.”

48. GRATEFULNESS vs. Unthankfulness
Making known to God and others in what ways they have benefited my life
1 Corinthians 4:7 “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

49. 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 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

50. MEEKNESS vs. Anger Yielding my personal rights and expectations to God
Psalm 62:5 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”