The following was written as part of an assignment for class on Thursday night.

‘The precise definition of personality has been a point of discussion amongst many different theorists within many different disciplines since the beginning of civilization. Personality can be defined as “the distinctive and characteristic patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that define an individual’s personal style and influence his or her interactions with the environment” extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability and culture. I chose the factor model of Neuroticism, which, on the high scores includes a tendency to experience unpleasant emotions easily, such as anger, anxiety, depression, or vulnerability; sometimes called emotional instability. Jacob in the Book of Genesis exhibits this trait quite well, whereas Esau would score low on Neuroticism and high on extraversion.

When dealing with is brother Esau, he would always appear to be jealous of him. Esau was the older brother to Jacob after the Lord said to Rebekah, “two nations are in your womb, and two peoples within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger” Genesis 25:23.  Esau was always the skilled one where Jacob had the high ego. One day, Esau came in from the field hungry and Jacob was cooking dinner. When Esau asked for something to eat, Jacob demanded his birthright, Genesis 25:29.

Throughout this chapter of Genesis, Jacob’s nature is shown to be Neuroticism. His neuroticism was shown even as an adult. In Genesis 29, Jacob met Rachel and fell in love with her from the moment he set is eyes on her. Rachel had an older sister Leah. “Leah’s eye’s were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance” Genesis 29:17. Jacob worked for Laban, Rachel’s father for seven years. After the seven years, Jacob wanted to marry Rachel. On that day, Laban brought Leah to Jacob and his emotions was getting the best of him.

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Also written for the same class on Thusday night, but focusing on the Book of Ruth.

The precise definition of personality has been a point of discussion amongst many different theorists within many different disciplines since the beginning of civilization. Personality can be defined as “the distinctive and characteristic patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that define an individual’s personal style and influence his or her interactions with the environment” extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability and culture. Costa and McCrae’s 5-Factor Model of Personality include: Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. I chose the factor model of Agreeableness, which, on the high scores includes softhearted, trusting, generous, acquiescent, lenient and good-natured and the person I believe that fits this description is Boaz.

In his dealings with other people, he was always sensitive to their needs; he was always kind to his workers, relatives and others that he encountered. Ruth 2:20 states that, “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” As Boaz came out to inspect his fields, he called to the harvesters, “The Lord be with you!” To Ruth, he answered in Ruth 3:11,”And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid, I will do for you all you ask.” And in Ruth 4:10, Boaz states, “I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family…”

All throughout the book of Ruth, Boaz’s nature is shown to be Agreeableness. He was a soft-hearted, warm person, who genuinely cared for people from the heart. On the opposite end of the pole, Manasseh is very weak in these areas. He was ruthless and considered the worst king in the Southern Kingdom and as a result of his acts, the Southern Kingdom would go into exile. Throughout the books of Kings and Chronicles, he is seen to having false worship, set up idols and many other serious acts that are detrimental to the Kingdom that God gave him to rule for Him. He also used his own children for sacrifice to pagan gods! Totally ruthless! 2 Chronicles 33:2 “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord”, 33:6 “He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom..He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking Him to anger”, and 33:9, “But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites. Manasseh definitely scored low on agreeableness.

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Rollo May identified four kinds of love-sex, eros, philia, and agape. Sex, though it has become cheapened in today’s world, is a biological function that can be satisfied through intercourse or release of sexual tension. There is a difference between sex and eros. Eros is making love, wishing to establishing a lasting union. It is built on care and tenderness. Philia, is an intimate nonsexual friendship between two people, such as siblings or lifelong friends. Agape love is the kind of love our Lord has for us. It is without boundaries and is unconditional. Agape love is the ultimate love. May say healthy adult relationships as a blend of all four forms of love.

The way I see love, is according to the way I feel and according to my MBTI results is that I love truly from the heart, mostly philia and agape love. When I love someone, it is with everything that I have and I ask nothing in return. When I give or do for someone, I do not have any ulterior motives, or do it because they have done something for me-I do it because I love them and want to do. I have a close inner circle as my profile shows of people that I care about and I care about them very much, expressing the form of philia love. I am not a “worldly” person. I do not enjoy relationships with a lot of people or being a “social” person. I have agape love for my family.

As far as the sex form of love-I guess I have never experienced that-I’ve only experienced the eros form of that kind of love. I have to be totally in love with someone for that to happen and that has been my husband. My profile states that I have the capacity for caring not always found in other types and they care deeply, passionately about a few special persons and their fervent aim is to bring peace and integrity to their loved ones and the world. That is the only way I know how to love really. I love with everything that I have and that’s how I think everyone should love.

References
Feist, J., & Feist, G. J. (2006). Theories of Personality. New York: McGraw-Hill.

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Sullivan defines lust as “an isolating tendency, requiring no other person for its satisfaction.  However too often in today’s world the lusts of our hearts are usually joined with someone having this same tendency and desire.  Proverbs 5 does a wonderful job of describing what erotic lust outside of the confines of marriage brings as well as contrasts this damanation with what is available within the confines of marriage through and ordained by God.  Too many times we choose the short cut, or desire the instant gratifciation of our time with out thinking of the dire consequences to our souls.  We may try to mask our truest intentions or believe that we can commit sin in private but God sees and knows all.  Proverbs also says in the 21 chapter and 17th verse that “He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich. 

The self system is also especially interesting and is defined as a consistent pattern of behaviors that maintains people interpersonal security by protecting them from anxiety.  Sullivan contends that as we grow we continually build a self image of ourselves.  I wonder how close are our self images to the image God has for us?  He sees our ‘position’ not our ‘condition’  and I thank Him for that.  We can become so involved with the creation and maintenance of an air tight self system that we become guilty of a prideful heart.  Not wanting any one to ever see your humanness, the very humanness God gave us in the first place.  Proverbs 8:13 tells us “to fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviors and perverse speach.  and finally Proverbs 16:18 tells us that “pride goeth before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall”.  God made us all with the same dirt and breathed into us His same sweet holy spirit.  Of course we have our humanness to contend with on a daily basis and who knows better than Jesus the temptations we face.  Each day we just have to remember to thank Him for what He’s done and ask Him for our forgiveness when we fall.

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