Beyond First Impressions

If you wanted to impress somebody, what would you do? Most often we would try and dress up to make our outer appearance as interesting as possible. We assume that the way a person looks is a reflection of the true values of that person’s life. But many times this is not the case.

While I agree that appearance is important, I believe that the kind of person we are on the inside will take us much further in life than merely "how we look". I see youth that appear to have it all together. They are attractive, dress nice, drive nice cars and carry expensive cell phones. Yet they make lifestyle choices that are immature, inconsiderate, and sometimes dangerous. In other words, they don’t live like they look.

We should all strive to be the kind of person that a teacher would enjoy having in her class or a coach would value having on his team. It means having our priorities so in place that any company executive would hire us over someone else more qualified.

We must focus on being honest and hard working; being willing to go the extra mile without complaining. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God Ephesians 6: 6-8 Message. This scripture not only deals with working on a job, it covers our educational pursuits as well. Having a good character is the difference between looking interesting and genuinely being interesting. Nobody wants to be a phony or hire one.

There are many opportunities available to help us succeed. But God sees deeper than the here and now. He wants our whole life to make a difference. Prepare to do more than make a first time impression. Become a person of integrity and strong character so that you will both achieve and enjoy success.

By: Edmund Brown