Character Before Charisma
“Many will say to Me in that day…”
— Matthew 7:22–23 (NKJV)
This statement from Jesus is sobering. It confronts a dangerous imbalance that easily creeps into faith spaces today: celebrating gifts while neglecting character.
Jesus did not deny that these people prophesied, cast out demons, or worked miracles. The gifts were real. The activities were visible. The platforms were active.
Yet His verdict was final: “I never knew you.”
Why?
Because God never measures authenticity by gifts; He measures it by fruit.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus clearly teaches that a tree is known—not by its leaves, noise, or height—but by its fruit. Gifts can be received suddenly. Fruit is cultivated deliberately.
No tree bears fruit overnight. It passes through seasons—hidden growth, pruning, pressure, patience. In the same way, the fruits of righteousness are formed over time: integrity, humility, faithfulness, self-control, love. These are not activated; they are developed.
Today, many are so carried away by spiritual manifestations that they forget to examine the life behind the microphone. We applaud the anointing but ignore the patterns. We celebrate charisma but excuse compromise. Yet Jesus hinges the validity of true Christianity not on power displays, but on obedient lives.
The apostle Paul reinforces this in Epistle to the Galatians 5:22–23, where the evidence of the Spirit is not miracles, but fruit. Not gifting, but godliness.
A powerful biblical episode that illustrates this is the contrast between Saul and David. Saul was gifted, publicly affirmed, and spiritually active—but his character deteriorated. David, though flawed, was teachable, repentant, and aligned in heart. God’s verdict was decisive: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (see First Book of Samuel).
The way forward is not to despise spiritual gifts—Scripture never tells us to—but to submit gifts to character formation. Power must be anchored to purity. Calling must be carried by conviction. Anointing must rest on obedience.
For leaders, professionals, and believers alike—especially in visible spaces like Social media and your workspace—this is a timely reminder:
Your impact may open doors, but your character determines how long you stay in the room.
In the end, what God seeks is not impressive activity, but intimacy expressed through a transformed life.
-Apostle Godwin ROBINSON
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