2nd Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
This passage of scripture shows us the importance of building balanced characters in cooperation with God, and by His power. It is not good for us to be content with some strong points in our characters, while other weak areas go unchecked, because a chain is as strong as its weakest link, and any trait of character that is not of God must of necessity be uprooted and replaced by those mentioned in the above passage. The fact of the matter is that when we come to Christ, there are often to be found elements in our characters that need to be strengthened, while there are others that need to be weeded out. That's why the passage in 2nd peter says to "Add", meaning that there is always room for improvement.
When the disciples of Christ were ordained to preach, all of them had serious faults in their characters, but all of them also had precious traits that needed refining and strengthening by the grace and power of God. For instance, John is described as the disciple whom Jesus loved, not that Christ did not love the other disciples, but because John possessed an open and child-like spirit that was easy for Jesus to relate to. That's why when Christ hung upon the cross, he turned to John and entrusted the care of His mother to him, knowing that the comfort, attention, and support that Mary would need, would be willingly and abundantly supplied by John. Let's read:
John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
But the same John also had a serious flaw in his character that needed to be uprooted, because the sacred record shows that he had a temper problem, and was prone to violence when interfered with, or when ill-treated, a characteristic that does not come from God. He and his brother James were called the "Sons of thunder" for this reason, because Jesus observed their tendency to seek revenge for wrongs done, and that's why Christ sought to help them overcome in this area, which if left unchecked, could potentially unravel all of the other good work that could be accomplished in and through them. Let's read:
Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
As Christians living in the 21st century, we also have strong points and weak points in our characters, and what may be a breeze for us may be a stumbling point in others, and vice- versa. Therefore we are under the most sacred obligation to manifest patience and long-suffering with those who may be struggling with sins and weaknesses that may not be an issue for ourselves. When this is done on a consistent basis by the grace of God, we will find that we also will be dealt with in like manner when our own personal weaknesses surface and strive for the mastery.
Whatever our strong or weak points may be, let us always remember that God is not finished with anyone as yet, and because of this we are strongly advised to look for, and to encourage the good in others, while seeking to help in a Christlike manner, those who are still battling with internal foes.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which reiterates this very point, and it is the will of God that we all walk humbly with Him, knowing that we ourselves are in need of God's grace from day to day, just like any other person. Let's read:
Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!