Character or Popularity?

We live in an age where character is increasingly devalued in favour of popularity. Where once a person’s character was the defining mark of who they were and what they stood for, contemporary society has made celebrity rather than character the true test of a person’s worth and importance. We are confronted with this distorted message every day and this can lead to a misguided view of what is really important in regards to the development of character and living with integrity and honesty in our society.


The ancient Greek artisans and sculptors used to take great pride in finishing a sculpture without any flaws, blemishes or imperfections. Any “flaw” would be covered by a process whereby wax would fill the flaw and then, once painted over, the finished product would appear complete and “perfect” from the outside. However, discerning artisans of these sculptures were able to identify these blemishes by shining a bright light against these sculptures. The light would reveal the wax and therefore the flaws in the craftsmanship.

A great sculpture was therefore one that was “sine-cera” or literally “without wax”. This is the root form of the word we know today as being “sincere”.

The goal of building Godly character is to be sincere – to be seeking to live a life without wax. This does not mean we have to be perfect and free from all blemishes, but honest enough to make sure that the outward, external appearance that others see matches the internal motives and intents of our hearts. This can often mean dealing with those very things that don’t match up and having the courage to allow the Light of truth and God’s Word to reveal those areas.

Someone once described good character as what you are like... on the inside... when no one’s looking. In an age when the external matters more than the internal and where celebrity and popularity matter more than doing the right thing, it is important that we seek to develop character that is “without wax” and cultivate lives that are sincere and honest in every respect. Whilst the process can at times be painful, the final product is a person “strong in character, ready for anything”! (James 1:4 NLT).