After listening to a Podcast about “Things Don’t Make The Man,” I decided to take some hours to think deeply about it, and after hours of thinking, not like I don’t know this before now, but then again think and walk with me. We obviously live in a world that confuses price tags with personal worth. Luxury cars, designer labels, the latest tech are all sold as symbols of success, but here is the truth some won’t say out loud: none of it defines you, because real value doesn’t come from what you wear, drive, or post online, it comes from who you are especially when no one is watching.

This is how I like to see it: Character does! Integrity does! Purpose does!

This is NOT just a message, it’s a reminder; that in a culture obsessed with having, the real flex is BEING and just like me, if you’re ready to build something that lasts longer than trends, you’re reading the right article and while you read I will strategically drop the same verse of a scripture on different translations starting now.

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Luke 12:15 NIV

Things Don’t and Won’t Make the Man

In today’s world that is constantly telling you and I to buy more and show more, it’s very easy to lose sight of what really truly matters. We’re surrounded by carefully crafted images of success: the luxury watch, the fast car, the sleek apartment, and more. We’re told that these things signal power, status, and respect, but again, the truth is that they are just that, things and things DON’T make the man.

A man is NOT made by the clothes he wears or the job title on his business card; he is NOT  defined by how many followers he has, how expensive his shoes are, or whether his phone is the newest model; these are surface-level, superficial signals, noise that often distracts from the quiet truth underneath: character is what counts!

This character most importantly is forged in the choices we make when no one’s watching: 

• It’s how we treat people who have nothing to offer us. 
• It’s the way we show up for our responsibilities, the way we speak when it’s easier to stay silent. 
• The way we stand up, and straighten our back when it’s easier to fold. 

A man’s worth is NOT measured by his possessions, but by his principles.

But again and sadly, we live in a time where image often outruns identity and there is pressure to appear successful. Now success is NOT the issue, the issue is that we pursue this or that success before we’ve even defined what success means to us, but the men who truly leave a legacy; the ones who are remembered, respected, and loved are the ones who build their lives on values, not valuables. They know that confidence doesn’t come from what’s in your wallet, but what’s in your heart.

I’m sure we know by now that I am NOT saying that there is something wrong with wanting nice things but that when those things start to define us, we lose something far more important. We lose authenticity! We lose connection! We lose the chance to lead with substance instead of style!

Again, the truth is simple, even if it is not popular: your strength, your value, your manhood none of it can be bought: It has to be built! Day by day! Decision by decision! And no matter how loud the world gets, remember this; things may shine, but only character truly stands the test of time, because things don’t make the man. You do!

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Luke 12:15 NLT

Beyond the Brand: Character Over Clothing

As much as very correctly said “dress the way you want to be addressed” this is not about branding but about decency, but in today’s world where image especially of a clothing brand often the first not just to be seen but also to be looked out for by many people trumps character, it has become very easy to mistake the wrapping of the gift as the worth of the gift. We scroll through polished feeds, see perfectly styled outfits, luxury logos, and think that must be success, that must be confidence, but I need you to understand this: style can catch the attention, but character is what builds and keeps the respect, and so when the brand fades, when the cameras are off, what’s left? Ask yourself.

As much as clothing and styling is important, It’s very very tempting to let it speak for us. After all, today’s world reacts faster to what it sees than to who we are. A sharp suit or a hyped sneaker drop might open a door, spark a conversation, or even win admiration but these things won’t and can’t build trust. It won’t make you kind! It won’t teach you resilience! Those things can’t be stitched into fabric or bought off a rack! Remember style can catch the attention, but character is what builds and keeps the respect.

Again, by now, I’m sure you know, I am NOT saying you should reject fashion, expression through style is real, powerful, and often beautiful, but the danger lies in thinking the label on your chest outweighs the label on your life. When we believe that brand equals worth, we start to chase image over substance, and that chase? It never ends, because there will always be a newer drop or drip as some people like to call it, the latest trend, a louder flex, a more exclusive circle.

“Things Don’t Make the Man,” the message here is simple: who you are matters infinitely more than what you wear. You could lose everything tomorrow, the job, the car, the wardrobe and if your identity is built solely on material things you have, then you will have nothing left, but if it is built on what you are, honest, grounded, purpose-driven, integrity, then no loss can shake you.

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 12:15 ESV

Plus there is an interesting and maybe funny part to this, which is; the people who are truly secure in themselves don’t need to prove anything with clothes; they don’t need the brand to speak for them because their presence already says enough. Their word holds weight, carries water, their integrity speaks for them, their consistency builds trust and their humility earns them something far greater than style ever could: respect!

So please, please and please, and by all means, go ahead and dress well, enjoy fashion, take pride in how you present and carry yourself, but don’t ever ever confuse appearance for value. Don’t let the logo outshine the legacy, because long after the brand is forgotten, your character is what they’ll remember.

What you wear might make a first impression, but you see, who you are? That is exactly  what makes a lasting one.

Have you ever thought that just a glance at the face of a person can create an impression? Research suggests that it takes anywhere from 33-100 milliseconds to make a judgment about the character of a person.

A short amount of time is definitely not enough to be able to evaluate the character of a person; however, it’s natural to form assumptions about someone’s character when we first meet them.

Sometimes we get stuck in our initial impressions about others and are unable to alter our opinions even when confronted with contradicting evidence.

According to the old saying, you never get a second chance to make a great first impression.

First impressions are almost instantaneous conclusions we draw when we meet people for the first time. We come to this conclusion by quickly taking in details about someone, such as their appearance, clothing, posture, and voice tone.

We form an opinion that is not always accurate regarding people’s traits the moment we meet them for the first time. The qualities that we attempt to assess are the person’s honesty, friendliness, trustworthiness, and competence.

Continue Reading: How to Make a Good First Impression

The Measure of a Man: Integrity vs. Income

The bigger the paycheck, the louder the applause but the true and real measure of a man is NOT found in his income, it’s found in his integrity.

I am sure you have the saying “Money can open doors and Money answereth all things” but integrity is what keeps them open. Income can and will impress, but it is your integrity that inspires. You can buy attention with wealth, but respect? Naaah, I don’t think so, at best you can get people to pretend to respect you. You see, respect! That has to be earned through honesty, consistency, and how you treat people especially when you have nothing to gain.

I would like to think my point and message here remains clear: success without character is just an expensive illusion! A high salary means nothing if your word means nothing! And no title or bank balance can replace the power of doing what is right especially when it’s hard!

Real wealth is NOT about how much we have but it is about who we are especially when no one’s watching us.

And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 12:15 BSB

Status Symbols and Empty Shells

The luxury watch; the foreign car, a high-rise apartment with a view; these things scream status but too often that not, they whisper insecurity. And so to cover and make up for our insecurity, we chase things that signal success, hoping that they will fill the spaces and void inside us, but as the truth is that “Things Don’t Make the Man,” these possessions can only dress the surface because like I already said, they are superficial and as such they can’t define our soul.

And for that reason a status symbol without substance is just an empty shell, shiny on the outside, but hollow on the inside, and if you are stripped of the car, the clothes, the clout, what is truly left? If you take time to think about it; the answer; that’s where your real worth lives, not in the image you project, but in the integrity you carry, if you carry any at all.

Because again and again and in the end, symbols will fade, trends will pass, and admiration for things is always temporary, but you see, respect for authenticity and most importantly integrity? That will never ever go out of style, and do NOT let anyone tell you otherwise.

And He said to them, “Beware, and keep yourselves from all covetousness; for not to anyone is his life in the abundance of that which he possesses.”

Luke 12:15 BLB

What Really Makes the Man

I want to believe by now, you get the point of all of these but it still begs the question: What really makes the man? It’s not the designer suit, the six-figure salary, or the sleek car in the driveway; these may impress the eyes, but they do NOT impress the soul, real worth runs deeper. 

Being vs. Having

Some spaces depending on your circle teaches you to have more, but rarely to be more. We’re praised for accumulating but not for growing, learning, or becoming, but true manhood is NOT about possessions; it’s about presence. It’s not what you own that defines you, it’s who you are when all the noise fades, because a man who is grounded, honest, and self-aware will always outshine the one who simply has the latest things.

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Luke 12:15 KJV

Manhood Isn’t Marketed

You can’t buy the dignity of manhood off a shelf or follow just any crafted Instagram lifestyle to get there because and  again real masculinity is NOT loud, flashy, or performance-based and it’s NOT in the beard oil, the gym routine, or the hustle grind, but gain, again and again it’s in the choices we make when no one’s watching us. It’s in how we show up for our family, our community, and our principles; the world may sell manhood like a product but the real thing, the dignity that ought to follow isn’t for sale.

And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Luke 12:15 NKJV

Purpose Over Possessions

A life built on possessions is fragile because like possessions it can be broken, lost or worst stolen but the life built on purpose is unshakable, because purpose gives a man direction, focus, and fulfillment that no material object ever could; it transforms success into significance. When a man lives with purpose whether as a father, leader, creator, or servant everything he touches gains value, because now as the intent is value and purpose; it is not about what he has, but very very much about why (as in purpose) he is here.

But He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one is affluent does his life consist of his possessions.”

Luke 12:15 NASB

When Character Walks In, Ego Walks Out

Character doesn’t need to brag; it doesn’t demand attention but it commands respect and where ego chases approval, character builds trust. A man of character listens more than he speaks, stands firm when others fold, and lifts others even when he gains nothing, be that man! Be that man! Who, in every room, he brings peace, clarity, and strength not because he is trying to prove something, but because he has nothing to prove, or at least nothing to prove in a way that craves attention.

To build character in any situation, you must know what you struggle with. If you’re struggling to be humble, search for sources to assist you in learning to become more humble and develop a habit of it; if you are struggling with self-control, Set goals and strive to achieve them in a manner that is right for you.

Making the necessary steps to improve your character is not an easy job. People are more likely to notice those who take the right path than what’s simple. 

A strong character is something that everyone should strive to attain, but what exactly does a solid character actually mean? What can we do to build it in our own lives and our relationships with others?

Character originates from the Greek word kharakter, which translates to “to engrave with a stick.” Consider character as the stamp you use to create an impression on the wax (you).

Whatever your age or previous experience, developing character is a lifelong process of learning that includes the ability to lead, experience, and a commitment to growing and maturing. Get started now on building your character.

Continue Reading: How To Build A Strong Character

From Consumption to Contribution

What makes a man, the man’s worth is not in what he consumes, but in what he contributes, because again true fulfillment doesn’t come from stacking more for yourself, it comes from pouring into others. What I have been saying, over and over and over again is that: The legacy of a man isn’t measured in things, but in impact. 

• Who did you help? 
• What did you build? 
• How did you make people feel? 

These are the real markers of a life well lived or a life in the right direction.

Then He said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from his possessions.”

Luke 12:15 AMP

Humility: The Quiet Sign of Strength

Humility is underrated but this very thing, humility, is the bedrock and foun dation of all true greatness because it keeps us teachable, grounded, and aware. Humility has nothing to do with thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less, and so, in today’s world full of noise and self-promotion, the humble man does NOT shout: He serves! He grows! He leads by example! Not ego! And that’s exactly what makes him powerful!

And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Luke 12:15 ASV

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Read Also: Don’t Sell Out, Don’t Be Cheap

Read Also: How One Small Lie Put A BIG Weight On My Chest 

Read Also: The Man In The Arena: Daring Greatly

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It’s very easy to associate our possessions and our positions with our identity. There’s even an expression to that effect: The clothes make the man. When we have a powerful job, we feel powerful. When the market is hot, we feel like we have a knack for investing. When we are number one in our space, in our industry, in sales, we’re very into checking and monitoring the rankings. When people are saying nice things about us, we revel in it, because of course it’s all true and deserved.

If everything stays well, it’s hard to see what the downside of this approach is (excepting the ego that can often creep in). It’s only when the screw turns that we realize how dangerous this has all been. Because when you associate your identity with externals when things are good, it’s impossible not to associate your identity when suddenly the same externals are showing you to be a loser or a fool or the object of other people’s contempt.

The Stoics would urge you to remember that things don’t make the man. Not now, not ever. Epictetus reminds us that just because someone has more money than you doesn’t make them superior. No, only their bank balance is superior. If someone is an eloquent speaker, that doesn’t make them better than you either. It just means they have better diction. “You yourself,” he says, “are neither property nor diction.”

Nope. You’re you. And you’re not measured or made by externals, or anything that is outside your control. What matter is who you are on the inside. What matters is what you do with the choices and situations that are inside your control. What matters is how you ride out the highs and the lows, and ideally are changed by neither of them.

Daily Stoic: Things Don’t Make The Man

Conclusion

So in conclusion of what we talked about, thought about and read about, what really makes the man? It is not the brand he wears, not the wealth he flaunts, or the accolades he collects. It’s his purpose, his wisdom, his character, good principles and values and his humility; it is how he lives, loves, leads, and lifts others.

Then he said to the crowd, “Don’t be greedy! Owning a lot of things won’t make your life safe.”

Luke 12:15 CEV

Because at the end of the day, things don’t make the man, but you see the man? He makes everything else.