Calm, cool, collected. Never loses their temper, but has a righteous anger towards injustice. The thought of deceiving you or cheating you never crosses their mind. Well mannered, refined. Encouraging, uplifting. Demeaning words do not pass through their lips. Generous and compassionate towards others. Empathetic, understanding. Unwilling to morally compromise. Knows what they believe. A leader, a teacher. A humble servant to all.
Classy, I can’t think of a better word for a individual such as that. And that is the kind of person I want to be.
I decided to share on this topic first because I don’t want there to be any confusion on who I am or what I am about. In other words, I am striving to make that first paragraph my bio. I fall short in many ways, but by the grace of God I will get there someday.
There are certain aspects that are easy to walk out in a situation, but not on a 24/7 basis. For instance, it is easy to never talk condescendingly towards individuals I do not know well, but much harder when it is a close friend or family member — familiarity breeds contempt. It may be easy to be morally uncompromising in a Christian setting, but when you are the odd one out because of your beliefs, it becomes harder. I know that as for myself, it is a daily challenge to keep it classy. It certainly does not happen by accident!
I do know of a man who lived with class in every way. They say that this guy never faltered. He had no tolerance for those who spoke one way, yet acted another. He was slow to anger and quick to forgive. He gave constantly and served radically. He helped the disenfranchised even when it put his reputation at risk. He was more concerned about serving the individual than obeying the social rules. Above all, he feared God rather than man.
Motivation, that is what it comes down to. We have to ask ourselves who and what we serve, what motivates us, what determines how we act. If you find it hard to be a classy individual, then ask yourself what you are living for. Here is what I believe: if we live for our own personal gratification, then we can never be a class act. If you really want to keep it classy, you will need to start living as a servant to others.
The man that I spoke of is Jesus Christ. That is who I desire to emulate in every facet of my life. Never before nor since has there been a better example of servanthood. Jesus kept it classy! Now, go and do likewise.
Keep it classy.
I am so grateful that you have taken the time to connect with me. I would love if you would share in the comments or by email what your definition of a classy individual is. If you found value in this or know someone who might enjoy the post, then share it!