Rick Warren Character Quotations

Life is [perceived as] a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

God wants to produce the character of Christ in our lives because he knows that the more we become like him, the more fulfilled we will be.

Never be impressed with charisma. Look for character.

Character is never built in a classroom; it is built in the circumstances of life.

What you BECOME on earth matters far more than what you DO. You're taking your character to heaven, not your career.

What happens outwardly in your life is not as important as what happens inside you. Your circumstances are temporary, but your character will last forever.

God uses his Word, people and circumstances to mold us. All three are indispensable for character development. God's word provides the truth we need to grow, God's people provide the support we need to grow, and circumstances provide the environment we need to grow.

God does not want you to become a God; he wants you to become godly - taking on his values, attitudes, and character.

God is much more concerned about your character than your career, because you will take your character into eternity, but not your career.

Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test... You will be tested by major changes, delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies.

The next sentence is one of the most important spiritual truths you will ever learn: God develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you're tempted to express the exact opposite quality. Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity.

Remember that your character is the sum total of your habits.

Failure isn't a character quality. It's just an event. How you respond to failure is your character.

There is nothing you can do that will make God stop loving you. You could try, but you simply can't do it - because his love for you is based upon his character and not on anything you do or say or feel.

People are interested by talent. God is impressed by character

Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test.

God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ.

Every problem is a character-building opportunity, and the more difficult it is, the greater the potential for building spiritual muscle and moral fiber.

Your illness is not your identity. Your chemistry is not your character.

God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.