Day 15: What’s in a name?
Proverbs 22:1,
“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
My Grandpa died when I was seven. One thing attributed to him over the years in my family is that he believed in the importance of leaving his family with a good name. Over the years I have found that a good name and a good reputation are extremely valuable. You can’t buy it, you can’t fabricate it, it must be earned. Once earned it must be protected with a life of honesty, generosity, and integrity. As children of God, we should understand that our name—God’s children, followers of Jesus, Christians—must be protected and cherished.
When I was young, I thought we were the only Williams in the world. Likewise, I thought all Williams held to the standard of wanting a good name. Much to my surprise, Williams is a common name and not all Williams care to protect their name. Believe it or not, I found the same to be true of Christians. It is a common name and not everyone protects it as they should.
The Bible is full of verses that teach us to protect our name. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:12)
The truth of the matter is that the gospel is already an offense to the unbelieving world (see 1 Corinthians 1:18). Christians should not add to the offense. If Christians conduct themselves no differently than the outside world, what good is that? If indeed the outside world is watching and they see no difference between themselves and Christians, what motivation, if any, will there be for them to seek Christ?
My Grandpa knew that a good name based on a love for God transcended any hatred of his day. Likewise, in today’s hostile world, the Christian will find that a good name based on a love for God will also transcend the hatred of our day.
Action: Make a list of how you protect the name of Jesus with honesty, generosity, and integrity.