Proverbs 22:1
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A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
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Or is your name a bitter thought? Do they think harshness, selfishness, stubbornness, moodiness, or a lack of discretion? Do they hope to avoid you? Do they avoid you?
You cannot ignore these questions and be wise. Your reputation and relationships are the great measure of your life! Stop and examine yourself by your reputation with others!
Some people are used as examples of specific virtues or all virtues. Some people are used as examples of poor character and problem relationships. How is your name used?
What is your name worth . . . to you? Is it more important than any amount of money or success? Do you work harder to improve your name than to get ahead financially? How much do you value the esteem and respect of good men?
God measures you by what others think! You cannot be approved by God and disliked and avoided by good men. It is impossible. And your family and close friends do not count, for it is our reputation before good and wise men that is the key. You can easily tell a person's character by the number and kind of friends he has. These facts do not lie.
Of course, the opinions of others are not our only measure, or the most important (John 5:44). But they are certainly a measure; and we deceive ourselves foolishly to approve our life and conduct, if we find a shortage of esteem of good men and women.
Demetrius had a great name and reputation (III John 1:12), and Timothy was highly regarded before and after he met Paul (Acts 16:1-2; II Cor 8:18). And this high measure is a necessary qualification for the holy office of bishop in Christ's churches (I Tim 3:7).
Of course, we are not speaking here of the profane and ungodly opinion of the world at large, for it would be a bad name to have all such men speak well of you (Luke 6:26). We are speaking of good and wise men, who know the heart and will of God.
Your opinion of yourself is worthless. It is contrary to fact. People with good names think poorly of themselves, while those with bad names think themselves quite desirable. The difference between modesty and self-righteousness is a great part of a good name.
Our great goal is to grow in "loving favour" with God and men, as did Samuel and our Lord (I Sam 2:26; Luke 2:52). This happens when we keep the two great commandments - love of God and love of neighbor. The "loving favour" of our proverb is how God and others treat us, which we can choose by living a consistent life of godliness toward them.
So great are these goals - our reputation and esteem by others - they should exceed any other goal. Men work long days of hard labor for many years to get rich, but building a good name and reputation are more important. If you had a choice between a good reputation and precious ointment, you should choose the good name (Eccl 7:1).
Consider your funeral, and see the comments for 10:7. The memory of just men is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot. How will you be remembered? Will your memory bring pleasant thoughts to hearts? Or will most cringe and be relieved?
You have two names. Your first name is your personal name. How you live and treat others creates the reputation of your first name. God gave you that name with a pure reputation. What have you done with it since? You have either enhanced it or dirtied it.
Your second name is your family name. How your family lives and treats others creates their reputation. Are you promoting your family name? Or are you letting it decay? Do others desire to be with your family? Or have they been offended enough to back away?
David had a great name in the Bible. His name was much set by in Israel (I Sam 18:30). Though Saul was king with a princely son, Jonathan and the nation loved David, for he was better than any other (I Sam 18:1-16). Everyone wanted to be with David, be like David, or be married to David. He earned this by being gracious and wise at all times.
Blessings at Solomon's coronation included having a name greater than his father's, which was easily the greatest in Israel (I Kings 1:47). Even God compared all later kings with David, and this man was described as a man after God's own heart. What a goal!
Nabal was the opposite. He was churlish - overbearing, harsh, and difficult (I Sam 25:2). His name meant fool, and even his wife said he was one (I Sam 25:25). He was a man of Belial - wicked and profane. The Lord let him think about dying for ten days before killing him, so David could marry his beautiful wife when he was buried (I Sam 25:39).
Consider Joseph. Though a purchased slave, he earned the loving favour of God and Potiphar by his exemplary conduct (Gen 39:1-6). Though a convicted rapist, he earned the loving favour of God and the jailor (Gen 39:19-23). Though a term prisoner, he earned the loving favour of God and Pharaoh (Gen 41:38-45; Acts 7:10). Anyone who says their circumstances or past have poorly affected their name is just making excuses.
Consider Daniel. Though a captive eunuch from a strange, small country, he earned the loving favour of God and Ashpenaz, the prince of the eunuchs in Babylon (Dan 1:9).
What can you do to build your name and reputation and win the loving favour of others?
Just a little folly can spoil a reputation (Eccl 10:1), so we must avoid even the appearance of evil (I Thess 5:22). And we must quickly make amends for offences (Matt 5:23-24).
Graciousness is the greatest trait for a good name and the loving favour of others, for it can win the friendship of kings and cause women to be always honored (22:11; 11:16).
Men love those who build their lives (27:9). Are you a tree of life (11:30)? Do others benefit by being around you (9:8; 25:12; 28:23)? Do they seek you out for help?
Is your speech a healing balm, a sarcastic whip, or a foolish noise? Men love pleasant and good words that are kind, gentle, friendly, and helpful (12:18; 16:24; 18:21; 25:11).
Charity never fails! If you learn and apply the fifteen phrases describing true love (I Cor 13:4-7), your name will blossom as a beautiful flower. If your name is not great and your friends are few, it is proof you have not learned true love. Charity never fails!
If you are young, you have an advantage. Your reputation is still being built, and you should apply yourself with all diligence to make it the very best before God and men.
Your name and reputation are daily choices, and you should choose to build them and preserve them more than any other project or goal. You can change your name and reputation, so consider it a blessed privilege and duty and a high priority for your life. Rather than emphasizing exercise, diet, and sleep to build your body, which has little value to God or men, exercise yourself unto godliness and loving others (I Tim 4:7).
We have taken the name of Jesus Christ by profession and association, so it is important that our own names and reputations give honor to our religion and its Leader. Let us be as those of Pentecost, which grew in favour with all the people (Acts 2:47; Phil 2:14-16). Let our lives adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour with glory and beauty (Tit 2:5,8,10).
Jesus of Nazareth grew in favour with God and men during his youth (Luke 2:52). He was most gracious in conduct and speech (Ps 45:2; Luke 4:22). Because He loved righteousness and hated wickedness, God's loving favour blessed Him with the oil of gladness above His fellows (Heb 1:9). Let us have perfect names, even as His is perfect.
What do people think, when they hear your name? Do they think graciousness, goodness, kindness, and faithfulness? Is your name sweet to their ears and thoughts? Do they crave your company? Do they want to honor you with gifts and service?
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