Speaker Sermon/Lesson Title Audio   Video  Text   MS Word Category Bobby Stafford The Value of A Good Name       Reputation

The Value of A Good Name

Introduction:

What do people think when they hear your name?  Do they think of graciousness, godliness, and integrity?  Does your name bring cheerful thoughts to them?  Are they encouraged by your presence?  Or, does your name bring thoughts of bitterness and harshness?  Do they think you are  rude or moody or ungrateful?

Are you spoken about with respect and affection, or critically and negatively?  The value of your name is in direct proportion to you character.  A good name is more valuable than riches because it can’t be bought with money.  It has to be earned day by day by every decision you make.  It means living in such a way that earns the trust of others.

I.            The Value of a Good Name  (Proverbs 22:1-2) “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.  The rich and the poor have this in common, The Lord is the maker of them all.” NKJV

·       We receive a name at birth and then spend the rest of our lives attaching value to it.  Someone can be rich but possess a terrible reputation – e.g. Bernie Madoff.  Others follow the advice of Proverbs 3:3-4.  “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.” NKJV  Truett Cathy was the founder of Chick-fil-A.  On his desk was displayed a Bible verse: Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.” NKJV  That was his life verse which influenced all his decisions. What was important to him was not sales growth, stock dividends, wealth, but it was a good reputation.

·       Throughout history men and women have earned great respect by having a good name – Washington, Lincoln, Ten Boom.  God’s Word informs us that King David had a name that was highly esteemed.  (I Samuel 18:30) “Then the princes of the Philistines went out to war.  And so  it was, whenever they went out, that David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed.” NKJV  

 

Timothy possessed a good name (Philippians 2) as did Demetrius  (III John 2). “because of the truth which abodes in us and will be with us forever:” NKJV  Others who had a good reputation would be Joseph (Genesis 39) and Daniel (Daniel 6).  These were known as men of virtue and integrity.  They knew the value of a good name.

 

II.          How to Achieve A Good Name  Proverbs 22:8-9) “He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, And the rod of his anger will fail.  He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.” NKJV

·       We do so by choosing what is right – righteous behavior.  Generosity is righteous [sharing with others].  Graciousness is righteous.  (Proverbs 22:11) “He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend.” NKJV  It is a combination of gentleness, kindness, and humility that make people charming and a delight to be around. 

·       Everything you do every day contributes toward your reputation.  Be on guard about every choice you make.  Ask yourself, “Will this decision help or hurt my reputation?”

·       Avoid even the appearance of evil.  (Proverbs 22:3) “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.” NKJV  See also Ecclesiastes 10:1. “Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.” NKJV  This means constantly ruling your spirit.  (Proverbs 16:32) “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” NKJV

 

III.        How to Maintain A Good Name  (Proverbs 22:22-23) “Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; For the Lord will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.” NKJV

·       So you have worked hard to achieve a good name.  How do you keep it?  Warren Buffet, “It takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”  We keep a good name by remembering who we are, followers of Jesus Christ.  We commit to doing what is right at all times.  As these verses say, we take care of those who can’t take care of themselves.

 

·       To maintain a good reputation, we must be consistent.

1.    Do all that you can to keep your word, to fulfill your promises.  Do this regardless of the cost.  (Ecclesiastes 5:2, 4-6) “Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.  For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools.  Pay what you have vowed – Better not vow than to vow and not pay.  Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error.  Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?” NKJV

2.    Maintain honest business practices.  Don’t cheat anyone.  (Proverbs 11:1) “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight.” NKJV  If you have cheated, restore it quickly.  Zacchaeus  (Luke 19:8) “Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.’ ” NKJV  If you owe anyone, make every effort to repay it.  Be prompt in paying bills.  (Proverbs 3:27-28) “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.  Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it.’  When you have it with you.” NKJV

3.   Do not take advantage of the poor even if it is legal.  (Psalm 41:1-2) “Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.  The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies,” NKJV  This would mean we should not gamble!  If you win, you are not hurting the casino, but those who lost their money.

4.     Represent Christ with honor and dignity.  (II Peter 1:5-8) “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love, For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” NKJV

 

Conclusion:

Consider, for a moment, your funeral.  How will you be remembered?  (Proverbs 10:7) “The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked  will rot.” NKJV  Will others remember you fondly; or will they think of how rude and unkind you were? 

A high priority in your life should be earning a good name.  So regardless of your birth, your upbringing, or how others have treated you, you can have a great name.  Also remember this:  If you have taken the name of Jesus Christ as a Christian, it is important that your name and reputation bring honor to Christ and His church.  (II Timothy 2:19) “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal:  ‘The Lord knows those who are His.’ And , ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’ ” NKJV

 

Bobby Stafford  October 6, 2019