is born with a particular kind. This constitutes his special character.
12 The Life that Wins
want to eat. Many cannot serve God because they covet snacks and indulge in adornment. Lack of control over these areas of the body is sinful.
5. Sins of Disposition. Disposition makes an individual. Everyone is born with a particular kind. This constitutes his special character. Nevertheless, the Lord comes to save us from our disposition as well as from our sins. Some people are born with hard and brittle characters, while others are born with a most righteous attitude. The latter kind of person acts as though he were the judge of the supreme court in all matters for all people at all times. He may indeed be most righteous in his constitution, but he lacks gentleness and sweetness in his dealings with brethren. He is very righteous but he is too hard. Let me say that this also is sin.
Just the opposite to the righteous man who is hard is the person who is very weak and most fearful of anything. So that to him everything is all right. People may deem such a "goodie-goodie" person as this to be holy, but we need to ask how many such persons have been used by God? Was the Son of God a "goodie-goodie" while on earth? The answer obviously is no. Such sins in disposition as represented by these two kinds of people need to be dealt with.
Then again, though, some brother may be neither hard nor soft but desires to be head. Wherever he is, he must display himself. No matter what the circumstance, he always has to speak or to be the center of attention. He will not be satisfied until he is noticed by people. He wants to project himself constantly; he cannot be a hidden person.
Still another believer is most timid and withdrawn. Wherever this person is, he or she always sits in the corner and refuses to come forth. This too is a sinful disposition and needs to be dealt with.
Our Experience 13
Some Christians are quick-tempered. One brother once said, "I thank God that though I lose my temper quickly, I also stop quickly. In the morning I may lose my temper, but after five minutes it is all over. I forget it all when I arrive at my office." Yet in the wake of his hot temper, his wife and children must suffer the entire day. And when he returns home he wonders why his wife is miserable, whereas he himself has felt quite good. This conduct is sinful and must be dealt with.
Now while some people are quick-tempered, others are never hasty. They can let a thing go undone for a day or even ten days. This is a form of laziness and should be dealt with.
Everybody has his own particular disposition or temperament. Though a person may be saved, he may be very sharp in his reaction. He is strict and tight in relation to every matter. Though he would never defraud others, he will make very sure that others will not be allowed to defraud him. He would never hurt a person's eye or tooth, but should anyone ever try to hurt his eye or tooth, then it will become for him a matter of eye for eye and tooth for tooth!
Others may not be as sharp as this man, but they may turn out to be very mean. They may not actually rob people; nonetheless, if an opportunity presents itself for them to take advantage of others, they will do so, even if it would only be a matter of a few pennies involved.
By nature some persons may be very talkative. When such people are present there can be no silence, and what is worse they always talk about other people. If they know anything, they must speak out. Though they have no intention of telling a lie, they will nonetheless often exaggerate. Such is their disposition in speech. Let us all understand that if we desire to be overcomers, we must allow the Lord to deal with us on these matters of personal character.