Problem Management — religious Q&A
Personality

People have very different personalities. Why would God reward or punish us for things we have no control over?

Our individual personalities can handicap us or give us advantages, but they aren't what's important. Just as with our physical differences, they are what we are given, not something we can, or perhaps even should, try to change.

It's said that character is what we do despite our personalities, and that's what's really important.

Jesus told two parables of people that were given money to hold in trust for their master. In one, all amounts were the same, and in the other the amounts were different, each person receiving an amount based on ability to handle it. In both cases those people that increased their funds the most received the greatest reward, while those that did nothing with the money were punished. In the end, it was how those people managed the money that was most important, not how much they were given.

If you have great ability, you are expected to use it to its full advantage. But even if your ability is small you are still expected to do your best with it, not to give up because you know you can't do as well as others.


Similarly, Paul spoke of a thorn in his flesh, and said we would not be tested beyond what we could handle (1st Corinthians 10:30 — There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].) So the same principle applies to negative traits too. Being an alcoholic or a pedophile might be parts of what we are, but having the character to not act upon our desires is what is required of us.