A Good Name

Proverbs 22:1, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”

This verse is a great verse with a great truth, but many people today do not live by it. It’s talks about a good name. This doesn’t mean that some of us have first and/or last names that are good or bad. It is talking about our reputation or testimony.

The Bible says that having a good testimony is better than great riches. Many today would disagree with that. So many people are after money, and they will do whatever it takes to get it. This includes things like lying, cheating, stealing etc. in fact 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Money is not the root of all evil, but the love of money is.

As Christians, we should not be as concerned about being rich as we are about having a Godly reputation. 2 verses prior to the verse above, it says in 1 Timothy 6:8, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” We should not constantly be going after the things of this world, but we should strive for the things of God.

One of those things would be a good name. A good name takes months, sometimes years, to obtain, and it can be lost in a moment. Let us strive today to build a good name, and if we already have one, to keep it. The Bible says it is better than great riches.