P - Personality | John Muffler
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Personality Is Part Of The Masterpiece
Have you ever felt like you’re trying to fit into a mold that just doesn’t feel right? Many of us have wrestled with the idea that to be valuable, we have to look, act, or serve like someone else. But Scripture tells a different story: God made each of us intentionally—with unique personalities, strengths, and even quirks—to reflect His image in a one-of-a-kind way.
As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Your personality isn’t a problem to fix; it’s a gift to understand and steward.
In this post, we’ll explore how your God-given personality plays a role in your purpose—through the lens of Biblical figures like Mary and Martha, Cain and Abel, and King David.
Understanding Your Core Design
Every person reflects a different facet of God’s creativity. Just as the body has many parts (1 Corinthians 12), our personalities serve different functions within God’s plan. Some people are naturally assertive and action-oriented; others are relational, reflective, or detail-driven.
Tools like the DISC model or Myers-Briggs can help you understand your tendencies, but Scripture gives us living examples of these dynamics long before modern psychology existed.
Mary and Martha: Presence vs. Productivity
In Luke 10:38–42, Jesus visits the home of two sisters—Mary and Martha. Martha is bustling around, working to make everything perfect. Mary, meanwhile, sits at Jesus’ feet, soaking in His words.
Martha’s practicality and drive might remind us of a “Conscientious” or “Dominant” personality—focused, organized, and responsible. Mary, on the other hand, displays the relational and reflective traits of a “Steady” or “Feeling” type—drawn to connection and presence.
When Martha grows frustrated, Jesus gently reminds her, *“You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.”* He’s not rebuking her diligence; He’s reminding her that her worth isn’t in her work.
In Matthew 6:19–34, Jesus extends this truth, teaching us not to worry about material things but to *“seek first His kingdom.”* Our personalities may lead us to prioritize tasks or relationships differently, but both can honor God when rooted in love and presence.
Reflection: Are you more like Mary or Martha in this season? How might God be inviting you to balance doing and being?
Cain and Abel: Motivation and the Heart
The story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4) shows how two people with different temperaments can approach the same act of worship with different hearts. Abel, a shepherd, offers his best to God—a heartfelt act of worship. Cain, a farmer, also brings an offering. It is good, but his attitude falls short. When God favors Abel’s gift, Cain grows jealous and angry, ultimately committing the first murder.
Cain’s downfall wasn’t his personality—it was the posture of his *heart.* His need for validation and control, when left unchecked, led to bitterness. Abel’s humble and sincere offering reflects a heart aligned with God’s purposes.
Reflection: How do your personality traits influence your motives? Are you using your gifts to glorify God or to gain approval from others?
King David: Passion and Imperfection
Few Biblical figures display such emotional and personality depth as King David. He was bold enough to face Goliath, creative enough to write psalms, and vulnerable enough to weep openly before God. David shows us that passion, creativity, and deep emotion can coexist with strength and leadership.
David’s life reminds us that our personalities—even with flaws—can be powerful tools when surrendered to God. He made mistakes, sometimes acted impulsively, and experienced deep sorrow, yet he was called “a man after God’s own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14)
David’s story gives permission to those who feel “too much” (i.e., too emotional, too intense, too creative) to see their personality not as a liability, but as a divine reflection of God’s own heart for beauty, justice, and worship.
Reflection: Where might God be calling you to use your passion or creativity for His glory, even if it feels unconventional?
Embracing and Using Your Personality for God’s Purpose
Your personality isn’t random—it’s the canvas on which God paints His purpose in your life.
1. Cherish Your Design: Like Mary, make space for presence, not just productivity.
2. Guard Your Heart: Like Cain, be mindful of motives—align your work with worship.
3. Embrace Your Passion: Like David, use your emotions, creativity, and courage for good.
4. Collaborate with Others: God created diversity on purpose. We need both Marys and Marthas, Abels and Davids, thinkers and doers.
When we appreciate our unique wiring and celebrate the strengths of others, we reflect the unity and beauty of God’s Kingdom.
Conclusion: Your Personality Is a Platform for Purpose
You are not meant to fit into someone else’s mold. Your personality—your way of thinking, feeling, and relating—is a vital part of God’s plan. Like the people of Scripture, your unique design carries both strengths and struggles, but when surrendered to Christ, it becomes a masterpiece in motion.
As you learn to understand and embrace who God made you to be, remember: Your personality is not an obstacle to your calling—it’s the vessel through which your calling is expressed.
Reflection Questions
1. Which Biblical character do you most relate to—Mary, Martha, Cain, Abel, or David—and or another why?
2. How might your personality influence the way you worship, serve, or lead?
3. What does it look like for you to “sit at Jesus’ feet” in your current season?
4. Where might you be trying to change yourself instead of embracing how God made you?
5. Who in your life has a very different personality—and how could you celebrate their design rather than compare yourself?
