Why You Should Focus on Only One Character Trait
Wisdom Scripture
Proverbs 13:10 (NIV)
Where there is strife, there is pride,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Wisdom Quote
wise adjective
having or exhibiting a capacity for discernment and the intelligent application of knowledge — to be wise is to use knowledge well
Synonyms: discerning, insightful, perceptive, sagacious, sage
Antonyms: unwise, dull, slow, insensitive【1】
Benjamin Franklin’s Lesson on Focus
Benjamin Franklin created a “Plan for Moral Perfection.” Rather than trying to improve every aspect of his character simultaneously, he identified 13 virtues he wanted to develop. Instead of working on all 13 virtues at once, he focused on one virtue each week, giving it his total attention.
As he described in his autobiography:
“I judged it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time; and, when I should be master of that, then to proceed to another, and so on, till I should have gone through the thirteen.”
The Power of One Focus in Christian Character Development
Like Benjamin Franklin, I encourage you to identify one, and only one, point of focus.
Most Christians make little progress because they do not give sustained effort to develop one specific character trait or to stop one unhealthy habit. What seems so good—gaining lots of spiritual truth—can undermine your hope to become more like Christ.
A typical faithful Christian listens to a weekly sermon, attends a small-group Bible study, reads their Bible, listens to a podcast, and hears devotionals on Christian radio. Each inspires with new challenges: pray more, be patient, be more loving. But the sheer volume makes it hard to apply any one lesson deeply.
Lasting Change Through One Trait at a Time
I’m not suggesting you stop listening to sermons, but I am challenging you to focus on only one character trait by working hard on it for a sustained period—even six to twelve months.
Through God’s power, you can transform from being chronically late to always being early, from being a glutton to showing self-control, from being distracted to living with focus.
Footnote:
[1] Merriam-Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus 1996. Print.