The Value of Having a Good Name

This mornings devotion is an excerpt from a Leadership Page. You can view this current study in its entirety by visiting this sites Leadership Page link. Leadership - Fellowship Baptist Church (fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com)

The Value of Having a Good Name (Proverbs 22:1)

Proverbs 22:1, A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

On March 5, 2005, German long jumper Bianca Kappler created a stir in the world of indoor track and field. During the 28th European Indoor Athletics Championships in Madrid Spain's Palacio of Deportes pavilion, she refused the gold medal award. Kappler's final jump was measured at 22 feet, 10 inches. The next best contender was Naide Gomes of Portugal. Gomes' jump of 21 feet, 11 inches made her a distant second. However, when Kappler was handed the gold, she promptly handed it back, saying, "I know I can't jump that far." Kappler's other jumps were 21-11/2, 21-51/4 and 21-31/4. When officials asked her to reconsider or take a final jump the next day, Kappler declined. She insisted that her best jumps were nearly a foot shorter than that "medal-winning" effort. Judges concluded her jump must have been measured incorrectly and gave the gold medal to Naide Gomes. Kappler ended up with a share of the bronze medal, prompting several newspapers to dub her "the world's most honest athlete." The International Olympic Committee President sent a letter to Bianca Kappler to congratulate her on this gesture.

The honor of a good name has more value than great wealth. Character will support a person regardless of the severity or sum of the circumstance. There are many rich people that have no respect or value to their name. The word of the person of character will go farther than all their riches. It means behaving in such a way that we cannot be reproached for inconsistency in our conduct (II Corinthians 8:21; I Timothy 3:2,7).

One’s reputation is better than great wealth. The importance of maintaining integrity is beyond any financial price. A good name is more valuable than riches, because it can’t be bought with money. It has to be earned moment by moment, day by day, decision by decision. Having a good name means living in a way that earns the trust of others. It means demonstrating integrity that people can depend on. Maintaining a good name doesn’t mean that you are perfect, but when you make mistakes, you learn from them and do what you can to make things right.

Ecclesiastes 7:1 agrees that your name is valuable: “A good name is better than precious ointment...”. It leaves a pleasant fragrance in the air when it is spoken. A good name entails living with a clear conscience by accepting accountability for your actions and restoring when you have hurt someone. While riches we could live without, a life that doesn’t experience love would be devastating. If your name is not in good standing with others in your community, you need to start working on earning a good name today. It might take a while to build or rebuild, but there is no doubt in the end it will be worth it.

There are things you can do to get and keep a good name:
1.Live your life in a way that is pleasing to the Lord (Proverbs 16:7-10).
2.Associate with those who have a good name (II Corinthians 6:14–17).
3.Live a sanctified life (I Thessalonians 4:3-7).
4.Be faithful to God’s house (Hebrews 10:24-25).
5.Work hard and be reliable (Proverbs 28:19-20; Ephesians 4:28).
6.Keep your word (Ecclesiastes 5:4-7; Matthew 5:33-37; I John 2:5).
7.Think of others (Philippians 2:3-4).

Questions to Consider:

• If someone interviewed five of your friends, what would they say about your character?
• What are you known for?
• What word characterizes your reputation?

Points to Ponder:

• The honor of a good name has more value than great wealth.
• There is no greater inheritance we can leave behind, than the legacy of a good name.
• Ask God to help you develop a name for yourself that both you and He are proud of.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to have a clean heart and clean hands that my walk in this life will be in absolute integrity. In Jesus Name, AMEN.

If this post has blessed you in any way,
please share this website and its articles with others:
www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com