Strength without character
Introduction
How many of you know who I mean when I say “Charlie Hustle”? That would be Pete Rose—arguably one of the greatest baseball players ever. He played with grit, broke records, and became the all-time leader in hits. By sheer talent and determination, Rose seemed destined for the Hall of Fame. But he never made it.
His gambling showed his disregard for the rules, and his strength as a player couldn’t cover the weakness of his character.
You don’t have to be an athlete to know what that feels like. Some of us squander gifts chasing applause at work. Some of us burn ourselves out trying to prove our worth. Some of us give away what matters most because we crave love or approval in the wrong places. Strength without integrity, talent without humility, power without obedience—it always comes crashing down.
The Bible gives us a striking example in Samson.
Samson: Strength Without Character
Samson’s story begins with breathtaking promise. His birth was announced by an angel (Judges 13). He was set apart as a Nazarite, meant to live differently—no wine, no haircuts, no contact with death. His life was to declare, I belong to God. And he was given extraordinary strength to lead and protect Israel.
But instead of gratitude and obedience, Samson lived for himself. He killed a lion with his bare hands, then bragged about it. After defeating a thousand men with a donkey’s jawbone, he boasted in his own power (Judges 15:16). His strength became ego fuel, not God’s tool.
Samson pursued prostitutes, fell for Delilah, and ignored warning signs until it was too late. He clearly believed in God—but lived no differently than those who didn’t. That may be one of the greatest tragedies of faith: when gifts outpace character, and calling becomes self-glory instead of God’s glory.
Jesus: The True Deliverer
Now set Samson beside Jesus.
Samson yielded to temptation; Jesus resisted it.
Samson exalted himself; Jesus humbled himself.
Samson used strength for vengeance; Jesus used strength to heal, serve, and save.
Samson squandered his calling; Jesus fulfilled his perfectly.
Samson was bound, blinded, and broken because of self-indulgence. Jesus was bound, beaten, and crucified—but out of obedience and love. Samson destroyed his enemies in death. Jesus saved his enemies in death.
And that means we can bring our stress, grief, and temptation to him—because he knows them, and he overcame them.
Application
So let me ask:
What opportunities to serve others with your strength are you missing?
Where have you used God’s gifts as toys for your amusement instead of tools for his mission?
Every one of us knows what it’s like to feel worn thin by work, weighed down by stress, or shaken by uncertainty. Will we, like Samson, waste those moments proving ourselves? Or will we, like Jesus, pour ourselves out in love and service—trusting God to meet us in our weakness and turn it into his glory?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Share a comment below, or send me a note about how this connects with your own journey of faith.