A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Proverbs 22:1-4
In his play Othello, William Shakespeare wrote these lines for Lago on the importance of having a good name:
Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing;
‘Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed.
The point of life is not that people will praise us, but that we will live in such a way that leads them to praise God. However, while we are not trying to build up ourselves and our reputation for the gain of glory, it is very important that we have a positive and honest testimony. “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Romans 12:17). A Christian should be the most honest and dependable employee where he works. A Christian should be the most helpful and generous on the street where she lives. A Christian should be a testimony to the world around them, not just with a gospel witness, but with a life that matches.
What Paul instructed Timothy regarding pastors is true for every one of us: We should be diligent about way of life so that others will not look down on Jesus because of the way we live. “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:7). A good reputation is built by doing what is right day after day.
