Proverbs 22:1 - A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Many people aspire to greatness in our world. Usually this means one thing - money. When we think about someone being successful we automatically want to know how much money he is making. We all talk about how money isn't the most important thing but our actions show differently. When we hear about some movie star paying 10 million dollars for a house we marvel. A while ago I heard talk that a movie star gave a well known televangelist a million dollars. The talk went something like this - "do you know what I could do with a million dollars?" Then the dreaming starts. The truth is most people will never see anything near that kind of money in a lifetime.
What is it about money that has that kind of sway over us? After all, money isn't inherently evil. We need money to get along in life. Even the Bible says that money answers all things (Ecclesiastes 10:19). It makes life a lot less stressful when we have money. I know there are a lot of people in poverty around the world but I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I don't ascribe to the belief that asceticism makes us more spiritual. I can do a whole lot more for the kingdom of God with money than without it.
Yet there is something so much more valuable in this world than money. That is a good name. What is a good name. It is simple - when people hear a name they respect it. Why? Because they know the person who has that name keeps his word. If he says something he does his best to follow through. If he can't, he apologizes and tries his best to make it right. As the old saying goes, "a man's word is his bond." When a man has that kind of reputation it is so much better than money. There are people in the community that have money and everyone knows they got it dishonestly. People might envy their money but no one would want to trade places with them. Why? Because they are talked about behind their backs. People tell jokes about them and snicker when they are out of sight.
Every now and then we find a person who is as poor as Job's turkey yet commands great respect. How? Usually it is because this person is a person of prayer and wisdom. A person who treats everyone the same regardless of one's station in life. And believe it or not, this person is at times able to change things in the community more than the person with money. People will listen to someone they can trust. Someone who doesn't repeat gossip and break confidences. Someone who always has a smile ready and is truly interested in each soul. And one more thing - if someone were to lie on that person, no one would believe it because they know it is out of character. That person's good name speaks for itself.
All of us have made mistakes. We have repeated things we shouldn't have and have made judgment calls we shouldn't have made. But if we are striving to be that person of integrity it will show out every time. Most people know that everyone makes mistakes and are willing to give a second chance. None of us is perfect but we should all strive to be honest and have a good name. Not necessarily to make a name for ourselves but so that Christ will be glorified in us. God help us to be people of integrity that follow through to the best of our ability with what we say we will do.
God Bless,
Rev. Sullivan Jones
Many people aspire to greatness in our world. Usually this means one thing - money. When we think about someone being successful we automatically want to know how much money he is making. We all talk about how money isn't the most important thing but our actions show differently. When we hear about some movie star paying 10 million dollars for a house we marvel. A while ago I heard talk that a movie star gave a well known televangelist a million dollars. The talk went something like this - "do you know what I could do with a million dollars?" Then the dreaming starts. The truth is most people will never see anything near that kind of money in a lifetime.
What is it about money that has that kind of sway over us? After all, money isn't inherently evil. We need money to get along in life. Even the Bible says that money answers all things (Ecclesiastes 10:19). It makes life a lot less stressful when we have money. I know there are a lot of people in poverty around the world but I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I don't ascribe to the belief that asceticism makes us more spiritual. I can do a whole lot more for the kingdom of God with money than without it.
Yet there is something so much more valuable in this world than money. That is a good name. What is a good name. It is simple - when people hear a name they respect it. Why? Because they know the person who has that name keeps his word. If he says something he does his best to follow through. If he can't, he apologizes and tries his best to make it right. As the old saying goes, "a man's word is his bond." When a man has that kind of reputation it is so much better than money. There are people in the community that have money and everyone knows they got it dishonestly. People might envy their money but no one would want to trade places with them. Why? Because they are talked about behind their backs. People tell jokes about them and snicker when they are out of sight.
Every now and then we find a person who is as poor as Job's turkey yet commands great respect. How? Usually it is because this person is a person of prayer and wisdom. A person who treats everyone the same regardless of one's station in life. And believe it or not, this person is at times able to change things in the community more than the person with money. People will listen to someone they can trust. Someone who doesn't repeat gossip and break confidences. Someone who always has a smile ready and is truly interested in each soul. And one more thing - if someone were to lie on that person, no one would believe it because they know it is out of character. That person's good name speaks for itself.
All of us have made mistakes. We have repeated things we shouldn't have and have made judgment calls we shouldn't have made. But if we are striving to be that person of integrity it will show out every time. Most people know that everyone makes mistakes and are willing to give a second chance. None of us is perfect but we should all strive to be honest and have a good name. Not necessarily to make a name for ourselves but so that Christ will be glorified in us. God help us to be people of integrity that follow through to the best of our ability with what we say we will do.
God Bless,
Rev. Sullivan Jones
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