Ecclesiastes 7:1a
“A good name is better than a fine perfume,”
“A good name” When was the last time you stopped to think about your name? Throughout history there was a lot more to a name than simply a few letters thrown together to separate us from each other. With a name you could tell something about the person, the family, what morals and values a person believed. A name came with honor, or disgrace, with pride or embarrassment.
What about today? Do the ways of the past ring true? As I look around, and see people lie, cheat, and steal to get to the top. As I turn on my T.V. and see shows where a large number of desperate women all fight and compete for the chance to marry one guy, then it is reversed with guys and only one girl. People acting like desperate fools, with no self respect on national television with thousands sitting at home watching. We place cameras in celebrities homes and we watch just how crazy and messed up their lives are. Musicians, actors, athletes, those we look up to the most acting like immature fools with no concern for their name.
What about you? It is easy to look at the rich and famous and point out their flaws, but how about you? When was the last time you stopped to consider the impact a specific decision in your life would have on your name? How will you be remembered? When your children introduce themselves to someone new what response will the other person have as they hear their name? “O your one of those “Ambrose kids” guess I should watch my back” or “O your one of those “Ambrose Kids” it is nice to meet you I have heard a lot of good things about the Ambrose family.”
But whose name are we really trying to uphold? Whose name should we really be trying to bring glory? Who should we be doing all can to carry on His good name? Many times in scripture those who follow the One True God are referred to as the Children of God. And in Acts chapter one Jesus says that we will be His witnesses. It is you and I, those who claim to follow Christ that are charged with the task of holding up His good name.
If we claim to be a Christian, yet we live as the world we destroy the good that Jesus Christ did. We destroy the reason He died on the cross. We destroy how a lost and dying world will view a loving and just savior. However if we make all our decisions based upon upholding His good name, the world will see Jesus Christ as he Truly is. The only one who can truly change lives, the only one who could pay a penalty He didn’t owe, the only perfect and just sacrifice for our sins.
Action steps for today:
1) Make choices that will create a good name for your family. Whether your family has a bad past or clean record, stand up and raise the standard. Set the bar for future generations, live an honorable life, be a man of your word.
2) Live a life that upholds the good name of Jesus Christ. Don’t be ashamed of your belief, instead boldly proclaim who’s family you are part of. As followers of Jesus Christ we are a unique family. As the old Hymn says “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God, I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus, as we travel this sod, for I’m part of a family, the family of God.”
