The second quality we must have when we're dealing with others is: Credibility. When people trust you, they’ll listen to what you have to say. In the early stages of a relationship, (and that could be any type of relationship, like a friendship, a work colleague, a tutor, a romantic relationship) the other person involved will usually give us the benefit of the doubt if our character seems basically good. But in order to keep their trust, we must demonstrate credibility, which means we must be reliable, sincere, and have integrity. In the first six months of a relationship, we tend to focus more on how well a person communicates. For example, when we have a new boss who speaks well and casts a compelling vision, we buy in to that vision. We want to follow that person and be part of their plan. When we connect well with a new person at school/college/uni or a new work colleague, at first we feel we may have a new friend. That's because during those first few months, communication overrides credibility. After that, they swap over, and credibility overrides communication. If someone consistently proves that they're reliable and behaves with integrity, if their actions prove their words are true, we realise we can trust them and the relationship grows stronger. But when we realise someone lacks credibility, they lose our trust. The Bible reminds us that ‘the integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity’ (Proverbs 11:3 NIV). Over time, the way we live outweighs the words we use. So let's resolve to be people with credibility.

What Now?
Are there any areas where you don't always demonstrate credibility? Ask God to help you in those places.