The Change That Blesses Everyone Around You
Wisdom Scripture
Matthew 13:54 (NIV)
Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked.
Wisdom Quote
Wisdom possesses counsel, sound judgment, and insight, and grants health, long life, wealth, and righteousness.
Folly brings sin, disease, death, destruction, poverty, and misery (Proverbs 9:18; compare Proverbs 7:5–27). Folly and wickedness are linked (Proverbs 10:23; 16:17), as are wisdom and righteousness (Proverbs 8:20).
— Nettelhorst, R. P., “Wisdom,” in Lexham Theological Wordbook (2014)
Change to Bless Others
You shouldn’t just change your character to please God or benefit yourself—you should also change to bless others. When we sin, we hurt the people closest to us. When you lose your temper, it’s often the people you love most who feel the impact.
If you’re a parent, you want your kids to grow into healthy, godly adults. You want them to follow God’s ways. But nothing teaches quite like modeling. Your children will imitate your actions far more than they will obey your words. “More is caught than taught.” As someone once said, “I can’t hear what you’re saying because your actions are drowning out your words.” The best gift you can give your kids is a transformed you.
Paul told the Philippians:
“Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.”
— Philippians 3:17
And to the Corinthians:
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 11:1
Push yourself to grow in character because you are a living model for the people around you. Kids repeat your language—even the things you wish they wouldn’t. When you hear your son yell a curse word, your first instinct is to ask, “Where did he learn that?” Then it hits you: you shouted that exact word at the driver who cut you off in traffic.
Peter encouraged church leaders to be examples for the people (1 Peter 5:3–4). When you grow in Christlike character, you become a blessing. But when you live in defeat and ongoing sin, your spiritual influence weakens. Hypocrisy drains your integrity and your ability to serve with power. And those closest to you see the gap between your words and your actions—which often discourages them from pursuing God themselves.
I’m fired up to grow in character—first and foremost to please Almighty God.
How about you? What motivates you most to change? Take a moment to reflect on God, your life, and the people you love. Those three reasons keep me coming back to God’s refining work.
But let’s be honest—if pleasing God, benefiting yourself, and blessing others are so compelling… why is change still so hard?
