Jump Start # 1646

Ecclesiastes 7:1 “A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.”

  A good name. Solomon is reminding us of the value of our reputation. Our parents picked out a name for us. Some are named after someone in the family. Some are named after someone famous. Some have unique names. Some have common names. That’s how we all start. The name of our family can open doors for us. It can help us get a start. But after a while, it’s what we do that determines whether or not we have a good name. Our character, behavior, honesty builds and keeps a good name.

All through life we have witnessed what this means. In school, there were certain teachers that were dreaded. They had a reputation of being tough. There were certain neighbors that you stayed away from because they were known to be mean. There were others who were known to be nice.

Reputation is an odd thing. A person can have years of good behind him and then mess up, just one time, and he is forever known and identified as the guy who left his wife, or the guy who was arrested, or the guy who got into trouble at work. All the good can go away so quickly, by one careless act.

A good name takes a long time to develop. It take being good to have a good name. It takes being dependable, trustworthy and honest. There are things that can help or hurt a good name.

• Hanging out with shady people who are known to not have a good name will tarnish your name. The crowd you run with can help or hurt your name.

• Involvement in questionable activities can mess up a good name.

• The attitude you carry though life can help or hurt your name.

• How well you keep promises will help or hurt your name.

• Your history of returning what you borrow will help or hurt your name. The condition you return things in will either help or hurt your name.

• How honest you are will help or hurt your name.

• Whether or not you can keep secrets can help or hurt your name.

• How you handle money and how generous you are can help or hurt your name.

As important as our name is, there is another name that is even greater in value and that is the Lord’s. We must never do anything that makes some question the Lord. Folks will judge the Lord by our actions. They will say, “You are a Christian,” and from that they judge your faith, your church and your God by what you say and do. Those judgments might not be fair. That may be a lot for one person to carry, but that’s the way it is when we become a follower of Jesus. “Let them see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” By your works, the world makes a conclusion about God.

Our actions, attitudes and choices are much greater than we are. We must always think about what impression these things will have upon others. How will they see Christ in these things? Some things may not be wrong at all, but the impressions that they leave are not worth going after because it may make someone have the wrong image of Christ. We must always try to protect the name of Christ. We don’t want to give anyone the wrong idea about Christ. I told a group of young preachers recently that I’d love to have a bright red, convertible Porsche. I never will. Imagine the preacher pulling in the church parking lot with that. The first thought many would have, “Well, we must be paying him too much.” “I don’t have a car like that. Guess, I ought to take up preaching.” While nothing is wrong with having a Porsche, the baggage it brings to one who preaches isn’t worth it. Immediately, some folks would have the image of those wealthy TV preachers who seem to rip the congregation off. It would be hard for some to ever see past that. Something innocent like that, is not worth the troubles it could bring. We must think beyond ourselves and consider the impact of what we do upon others. Thinking this way, will lead a Christian to not going to some social events, because it just doesn’t look right. It will make him think more of others and Christ than himself.

Paul told the Corinthians that if eating meats offended others, he would never eat meat again. Was eating meats wrong? No. But Paul, had the big picture in his mind. He was more concerned about the image of Christ and what his choices would do for others, than himself. He could, but he wouldn’t if it hurt someone’s faith.

A good name is important, but more important is the name of Christ. If we could only thought about others and what impact our choices have upon others then we be better off. You hear folks using the expression, “He brought reproach upon the church.” That expression is not found in the Bible, but that concept is what we are talking about today. The name of the church is greater than my name. And the name of Christ is greater than the name of the church. When folks forget this, they will give no thought to their actions. They will do things that may take away decades of good that a church has done. We must think beyond ourselves.

There are some who have so messed up the name of a church that years after that person has died, the church still carried that reputation. It’s like having a ghost hanging around. It will take decades to regain a good name in that community.

Christ first. Church second. Then, comes me. If I could only think this way. What I do must be measured by Christ first, the church second, and me last. I have a right to, does not change the order of Christ first, church second and me last.

A good name—you help Christ and the church have a good name when you remember, Christ first, church second and me last

Roger