How much do you put into a name? Do you believe your name is well regarded? Are you willing to forfeit your good name to be wealthy? Do you hold wealthy people with higher regard? If so, why? Is it because you believe they are better people?
It used to be that keeping a good name through honesty and hard work was to be held with higher regard than anything else. That included treating others well. But today, it seems as making money has become more important than having a good reputation.
We marvel at people who can keep their integrity in today’s culture. There is pressure from all sides to let go for the sake of promotion. Cut some corners. Take credit for something someone else did. Report someone else for a wrong they didn’t commit. Do whatever it takes to move up the ladder.
I can remember in my younger days, I never worried about telling others how well I thought I was doing. I didn’t worry about someone speaking badly of me. I didn’t concern myself with promotion, fully believing it would come when it was due as people saw my work ethic and talents. Unfortunately, that is not always the case today.
The writer of Proverbs tells us to strive more for a good name than wealth. We are to seek the favor of others for who we are and how we live our life than to seek large bank accounts. Though this may sound odd to us, it is the way of God. After all, the writer of Proverbs tells us that both the rich and the poor are created by God. This is another way of stating we are all loved by God.
I pray we all seek to have a good name. I pray we hold onto our integrity. I pray each one of us know that God loves all his children, including each one of us. Seek a good name. Keep your reputation clean. Hold onto your integrity. Know that God loves you.
Proverbs 22:1-2
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.
The rich and the poor have this in common:
the Lord is the maker of them all.
Marty Pressey 