July 22

Your name’s sake

Agood name is to be chosen rather than great riches… (Proverbs 22:1 NKJV)

Adolf Hitler. Osama bin Laden. Joseph Stalin. Ivan the Terrible. Darth Vader. All these names have something striking in common. They all communicate and convey character to us. We hear the name and we instantly attach it to something. They can even create a certain mood in our minds. In this case, evil.

But let’s flip the script. George Washington. Abraham Lincoln. Mother Theresa. Martin Luther King, Jr. These names also speak to us in a striking way. However, there’s a completely different kind of character being communicated. With these names comes a strong sense of goodness and justice.

Here’s the point. Names are powerful because they represent the entire person. It summarizes what they stand for, what they do, and everything else about them. Quite simply, who a person is can be defined by their name.

Proverbs 21:1 taps into this powerful principle by identifying the fact that there’s tremendous value attached to having a good name. In fact, it’s considered more valuable than great riches. In other words, your name is more important than your bank account. Your possessions are just a small part of you, but your name embodies all of you.

And just as your name will define your character, your character will determine the quality of your name. The choices you make in life—whether to walk in God’s will or to pursue your own path—are going to result in you having a name that’s good or bad.

So, ask yourself this all-important question: If people were to rate your name right now, what would their answer be? Would it be good, bad, or somewhere in the middle? Remember, the quality of your name matters more than any amount of money. And this truth should translate into the choices you make as you live out your life.

Guard your conduct and protect your reputation, because they determine the quality of one of the most valuable things you’ll ever have…your name.

Think About It…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?

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