Character amnesia

There was a man . . . whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.  — Job 1:1

It seems that young people in China are beginning to forget how to write the characters that comprise the beautiful calligraphy of their traditional language. Some are calling the phenomenon “character amnesia.” Heavy usage of computers and smart phones often means that writing is neglected and some can no longer remember the characters they learned in childhood. One young man said, “People don’t write anything by hand anymore except for [their] name and address.”

Some people appear to have “character amnesia” of a different sort. When faced with a dilemma, they seem to “forget” the right thing to do and instead choose the easy way out.

God called Job “a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8). God allowed Satan to take everything Job had — his children, his wealth, and his health. But despite his heart-wrenching circumstances, Job refused to curse God. “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (v.22). Satan had challenged God’s assertion of Job’s blameless character, but he was proven wrong.

Character amnesia? No. Character is who we are; it’s not something we “forget.” Those who have a loss of character make a choice.       — Cindy Hess Kasper

It isn’t the tranquil and placid seas

That bring out the sailor’s skill;

It’s the wind and waves

that pound his ship

And toss it about at will. — Ritter

READ: Job 1:13-22

When wealth is gone, little is lost; when health is gone, something is lost; but when character is gone, all is lost!  

The Bible in one year:

• Proverbs 16-18

• 2  Corinthians 6