our temperament

As of late, I’ve been reading quite a bit on temperaments, and their implications for a person’s spiritual life, coping mechanisms and lifestyle. More specifically, I’ve acquainted myself with the temperament theory that was conceived by Hippocrates ages ago – that which splits up human temperaments into four generic types: Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholic and Phlegmatic. It wasn’t the first time I had encountered this theory, for dear Kenneth had told me about it before, but it was definitely the first time I plunged more deeply into the subject, and discovered some interesting nuggets of wisdom. I for one am a MelPhleg (or PhlegMel, pretty close either way).

No doubt, it’s dangerous to read too much about your temperament – for you begin to give yourself excuses for your behavior, or even begin to intentionally behave more like your supposed temperament – but it’s useful in small amounts, for it helps you to make the necessary adjustments to your behaviors where appropriate. Furthermore, you better comprehend the responses of your loved ones (hence avoiding misunderstanding), and you learn to accept them whilst helping them to overcome their weaknesses.

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but that isn’t exactly the main point of this post. The main point is actually about God’s wisdom in the way he orchestrates life and shapes the character of those who He calls.

I’ve been reading ‘Knowing God’ by J.I Packer (excellent excellent book), and in a chapter on God’s wisdom, Packer writes that ‘the wisdom of God [orders] the events of a human life for a double purpose: the individual’s own personal sanctification, and the fulfilling of his appointed ministry and service in the life of the people of God.’ He then illustrates the work of God’s wisdom through the life of the patriarchs, and dwells on the life of Jacob most. Jacob, whose name literally means ‘he deceives’, was a man who depended largely on his own wit and cleverness to gain success in his early years – including the stealing of his brother’s birthright, and the clever breeding of Laban’s flock. However, through life’s experiences – he himself was deceived by Laban,  he himself wrestled with God, faced the fear of meeting with Esau – he was humbled and taught to rely on God rather than himself. Symbolically, he was ‘lamed’ through his wrestling encounter with God, to teach him reliance.

All this reading on temperament theory has led me to realize that ultimately, God is the master of perceiving temperaments – He knows our hearts, and has ‘hemmed [us] in behind and before’, He knows our thoughts and personality. And He alone knows what’s best for each of our temperaments – He knows how to transform us from ordinary people to God-fearing servants of His. Hence He orchestrates life in a way that would lead to our transformation – for every person, a unique pathway in life.

For the proud (like myself, and I must openly confess that pride is something which I must battle each day), He often provides circumstances where I’m reminded to be humble. For the unloving and unforgiving, perhaps He provides conflicts through which we can learn to forgive and pardon. For those tending to be depressed and self-pitying, perhaps He provides discouraging difficulties through which we learn to find hope and self-worth in Him. He transforms us according to our weaknesses and strengths!

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This knowledge of God’s wisdom ought to lead us to trust Him more, in spite of all the circumstances in life that come our way. We should always remember that God knows what He is doing, it is best for us, and for the specific temperament blends we possess. How can the clay say to the potter: “What are you doing?” (Isaiah 45:9)- we must learn to trust in God’s perfect judgment.

He knows how to transform us into people who can glorify Him!