"What Makes You You?", Part 5

 

“What Makes You You?”

(Please read the above article beforehand.)

“Your hands shaped me and made me….” (Job 10:8, emphasis added).

Part 5: Your Personality

“Why We Act the Way We Do”

 

One of the two psychology courses I took in college included a study of human personality which explored character traits each of us possesses and which distinguish us from others (some 18,000 such qualities have been identified). Most professionals have followed a pattern generally attributed to Hippocrates, a fifth century B.C. Greek physician who has been called the Father of Medicine, who defined four personality types: sanguine and choleric (extrovert/outgoing) and melancholy and phlegmatic (introvert/reserved). Each category has strengths and weaknesses, contributing to David’s observation that we are “…fearfully and wonderfully made….” (Psalm 139:14) and leading to potential difficulties in relationships (“No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone….”—1 Corinthians 2:11, NLT).

To illustrate how “personality theory” plays out in life relationships let’s look at Jesus’ disciples. We don’t know much about some of them but we see others in this way:

*Sanguine: Peter (outspoken but weak on follow through—John 13:37-38).

*Choleric: James and John (focused but little wiggle room—Luke 9:51-56).

*Melancholy: Andrew (sensitive but pessimistic—John 6:8-9).

 

(Note that brothers James and John were alike but Peter and Andrew were different.)

 

*Phlegmatic: Thomas (dependable but stubborn—John 11:16; 20:24-29).

 

Remember too that Matthew collected taxes for the Romans and Simon was a Jewish Zealot. It’s a testimony to Jesus’ skill as a Teacher and Leader that the group stayed together. (It’d have been interesting to be a fly on the wall during one of their “team meetings”!)

Differences in our emotional make-ups make families, churches and other relationships ripe for conflict. This calls for awareness, acceptance and appreciation of diversities among those we know and love. As we seek to understand why we and others act the way we/they do we can see God at work as the “…peace of Christ (rules) in (our) hearts….” (Colossians 3:15). May this make us thankful for and respect each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan