The Perfect Personality

Jesus didn’t exhibit weaknesses of any of the temperaments, but he demonstrated all the strengths of all four temperaments. He truly was the perfect person.

With children, he was the sanguine: lively and fun. His ability to teach effectively, especially with parables, shows his strength in organization and attention to detail—like the melancholy temperament. Jesus was most like a phlegmatic when he was able to sleep in a boat when the disciples thought the boat would be tossed over in a storm. And finally, he operated as a choleric when he confidently and forcefully threw the money-changers out of the temple. He took quick action and wasn’t afraid of anyone.

Knowing your future spouse’s temperament will help you understand them. Many people believe that the person they love looks at life the same way they do, but that’s usually not the case. Not understanding their way of thinking will lead to assumptions and misunderstandings when they react out of their perspective of life, not your perspective.

There are many different methods of testing for temperaments and personalities. One of the simplest is through the ministry of Florence Littauer and Marita Littauer (www.classervices.com). They have available for purchase tests that will help you to identify your own and other people’s temperaments. These tests are also included in their books, such as Your Spiritual Personality (Jossey Books), Love Extravagantly (Bethany House), and Personality Puzzle (Revell).

What’s Temperament Got to Do With Anything?

LARRY: When I first dated Kathy, I was impressed with the energy and flexibility she demonstrated. If there were some minor conflict between us, she readily faced the problem and even offered compromises that suited both our interests.

But after we were married awhile, things began to change . . . things like when Kathy consistently squeezed the toothpaste tube in the middle, in obvious rebellion to my careful instruction. Imagine my surprise when I found my compromising and flexible bride was no longer interested in making any changes. Status quo was now her goal in life.

I’d never heard of the different temperaments when we were dating. Although Kathy demonstrated versatility during that time, there were plenty of warning signs that popped up to reveal her desire to be perfect, but my love-blinded eyes just didn’t see them. Years later when we learned about the temperaments, I was identified as a choleric, whereas Kathy tested as a melancholy. We began to understand the different perspective we each had.