What is a Good Name:…. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN…BILL CLINTON..ARNOLD SWARTZNEGGER…GEORGE WASHINGTON……VERBAL BEAN..ABE LINCOLN…BRIAN KOCH…… ICHABOD… BENEDICT ARNOLD..SAMSON… DELIAH.. DAVID...
Images and feelings rise up when you read those names. The stories of their life and decisions that they made affect us. There is a reputation associated with each name. Reputation means the standing one acquires through life. It may be based on falsehood or rumors but it may be based on what you have done or accomplished. Some may say that they don't care what others think. Christians do need to care what others think because our lives are letters to lost souls.
Someone tells you, "I give you my word!". You will judge that statement not based on the literal words but on the life of that individual. Words are validated by actions. A good name takes a lifetime of living right. Benedict Arnold might not have lived a bad life but he is remembered for one very wrong action, that of a traitor.
Proverbs 22:1 "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold."
The key action in this scripture is choice. You choose everyday what is most important to you. What are you pursuing? What do you have in your mind when you choose? The kingdom of God or the kingdom of self?
If you doubt how important your reputation is, read Ecclesiastes 7:1 "A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth." I think we get it backwards. We race towards youth and as it passes us by, we spend billions on trying to regain it. The scripture tells us that it will be better to die than to live. We forget that eternity is real and this life is but a vapor. This good name will carry us through eternity.
Psalms 52:9 "I will praise thee forever, because thou hast done it; and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints." I am so thankful we know a name that has a ring of truth, power and salvation to it. I love the name of Jesus.
Next blog: How do you get this good name?
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