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.     [Ecclesiastes 7:1]  A good name is better than precious ointment;

We honor people by naming things after them, towns, streets, kids. [Gen.4:17] Charles Manson, Adolf Hitler, and Lucifer are not popular because they are not good names.

The Purpose of a Name:

Your name identifies and separates you from others. [Acts 9:11] Saul of Tarsus

No one had a last name in the Bible: But some had surnames:

Judas Iscariot – [Lk.22:3] surname (man of Kerioth, Jer.48:41 a city)

[Mk.3:16] Peter [Matt.16:17] Simon Bar-jona [Jn.21:15] son of Jonas

Surname – A name or appellation (the word by which a thing is called and known) which is added to, or over and above, the baptismal or Christian name, and becomes a family name ; Surnames originally designated occupation, estate, place of residence, or some particular thing or event that related to the person; thus, Edmund Ironsides; Robert Smith, or the smith; William Turner. Surnames are often also patronymics; as, John Johnson.

What to people think when they hear your name?   Your Reputation is what comes to mind

REPUTATION – Good name; the credit, honor or character which is derived from a favorable public opinion or esteem Reputation is a valuable species of property or right, which should never be violated. With the loss of reputation, a man and especially a woman, loses most of the enjoyments of life.

Your reputation is what you allow everyone to see, your character is what you do when no one is looking.

You can have a good reputation and not very good Character. Politics, movies, entertainment people pay to have their “image” developed or protected. That becomes their reputation or “good name”. Don’t let your reputation be built upon an image, build your good name or reputation as a reflection of your good character.

Proverbs 20:11
 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Your good name or reputation starts early in life. It is never too early to begin work on that good name.

Ecclesiastes 10:1
 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.  (Your reputation can stink)

You can lose it very easily. [1 Thes.5:22]  Abstain from all appearance of evil. The world is hoping that you will fail, and so they watch carefully.

Acts 5:34  

 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

You are known by your reputation, respect, trust, knowledge, and wisdom. 30+ years with a plumbing company, and no advertising in a small town (Do a person right and they might tell two other people, but do them wrong and they will tell everyone they see for a month or longer.)

Philippians 2:7 

 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

[Isa.53] Nothing to boast of, or gain advantage

We tend to use our or someone else’s reputation to gain advantage. When you recommend someone and they do a poor job, it reflects on your reputation. With your mouth (or social media/internet) you can destroy someone’s reputation or name.

Philippians 2:29 

 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:

You are treated according to your reputation. His reputation preceded him. A good name will take you places because it always goes before you.