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

Jump Start # 1398

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.”

  Our verse today is taken from the contrasting section of Ecclesiastes where Solomon declares one thing to be better than another. There are a series of six contrasts in this context. On the surface, most would initially choose the ones that Solomon does not call better. The end of our verse illustrates this. Given the choice, a birth or a death, most would take the birth. People are excited at births. They are sad at deaths. In an instant someone becomes a grandma and her world is magically changed into buying things for the new little grandchild. I’ve seen that in my own home.

The front part of our verse is where our attention is focused on today. A good name is better than a good ointment. Solomon is driving at reputation, character and what one has done with their life. Some names sound successful. Some names are catchy. I knew a guy whose last name was Gunn. He had a boy that he named, “Thomas.” Everyone knew him as “Tommy Gunn.” Cute. This is not what Solomon is meaning by a “good name.” A good name comes from a person being good. The choice of a name given by parents does not set the course for one’s life. However, certain names remind us of a terrible life or a great life. I’ve never met a person named Judas or Jezebel. Those two names from the Bible are certainly not “good.”

I was reading a section of church history the other night. I came across an Emperor whose name was Michael III. He lived long ago in the mid-800’s. He was the last in a line of rulers and the early historians did not view him very favorably. He was known more so as Michael III, the Drunkard. He squandered the empire’s wealth, lived a very loose and immoral lifestyle and was pretty rotten. Modern historians seem to view him in a more favorable light and even  attributing some outstanding things to his reign. Michael III, the Drunkard. You know his mother would have never named him that. He got that tag from the way he lived. His choices led to him being known by that nickname.

So, Solomon tells us it is better to have a good name. How does one get that good name?

Some begin life on the coat tails of their parents good name. Solid citizens, decent people, good folks, “church going” people, as some used to say, are the environment that some of us come into this world. There have been doors opened to us because of the good name of our parents. But in time, we must make our own mark. Some have taken that good name and run it into the mud. Some have resented that good name. Some have gone the other direction on purpose, because of that name.

Others, have just the opposite start in life. Maybe your parents weren’t good citizens. Maybe their reputation was dishonesty, cheating and even connected to serving time in jail. “You are one of them,” was not a good thing to hear growing up. Maybe doors were shut before you were even given a chance, because of your family name. But again, in time, we must make our own mark.

So we may start off ahead or behind because of our family name. Some get it easier and others must work harder because of that family name. But that’s just the starting point. It’s like watching the horses start at the Derby. The gates open and off they go. Some take a fast lead, others are slow getting out of the gate. But it’s a long race, and the start doesn’t tell the whole story.

How you treat others, how ethical you are, how consistent you are, builds that name. Playing favorites, ignoring the rules for your own sake, being lazy, lying, cutting corners, blaming others, living on excuses—it doesn’t take much of that until your name becomes sour. Word gets out and gets around about bad names. Folks say, “You can’t trust him,” and they don’t. People steer clear of one with a bad name.

The opposite is just as true. As one sets about life, they are honest, generous, kind, helpful, hard working and making right the mistakes that they’ve made, it will be noticed. Word gets around. In the work setting, promotions come. In the family setting, there is that one that everyone can go to for advice.

A good name. We still stick to that principle. When someone new moves into the area and they want to find a new doctor, dentist, mechanic, car dealer, baby sitter—they start asking around. They ask people at work. They ask neighbors. What they hear is a good name or don’t go to this one, a bad name.

Don’t you think the same could be said of a congregation? Some congregations may have a good name and others a bad name? We remember from Revelation that one congregation had a name that they were alive, but the Lord declared them to be dead. What others thought about them, wasn’t how the Lord saw them. That is a concern. First, and foremost, we must please the Lord and walk with Him in the direction that He is going. It really doesn’t matter how great folks love you, if you are doing wrong, it’s wrong.

Having understood that, congregations can have a good name or a bad name. They can be known to be unloving, unforgiving and a closed club that no one on the outside can break through. That reputation will affect the church’s growth. If they are known to be mean, then folks will stay away. If they are known to be fighting, then few will darken the doors. Word gets out. People know.

But a congregation that is known to be loving, helpful, kind, and there for people who are working through problems will get a great name. When it is known that the church isn’t perfect but the Lord is, that spirit becomes encouraging. People will know it to be a serving church. It will be known as a loving church. The community sees it by the large numbers that turn out at a funeral home or the large quantity of food that is made for a grieving family. It is known because the people seem to care about the place. It is known because people want to be there.

The other Sunday night, I was coming to our church building. The traffic was bad. It’s usually not that way on a Sunday evening. Bumper to bumper and stopping a lot. Then I noticed a long line waiting to turn into our parking lot. The cars couldn’t turn because there were so many coming from the other direction that we also turning in. It seemed like everyone was coming to our place. That’s a great sign. That’s a great feeling. Something good is happening. People want to be there.

A good name—it takes time. It takes being good. It takes doing good. It takes consistency. Whether we talk about an individual, a family, or a congregation, there is something about that good name.

What you do today helps build that name. Look around. There are those that you can help. There are those that you can encourage. There are those that need to see Jesus. There are those that you can make a difference. This is how a good name is made. When one has messed up their name, it can be turned around, it will just take time, often a long time.

Good name…how people know you. How the Lord knows you.

Roger

Jump Start # 320 

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.” 

  There are passages in the Bible that our heads tell us are right but our hearts have a hard time believing it. Our passage today is an example of that, ‘the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.’ Using modern lingo, we have a hard time ‘wrapping our brains around that one!’ More than that, we rarely conduct ourselves in the manner that this verse suggests.

  Solomon, throughout this chapter is contrasting things that are better. The word ‘better’ is used seven times in the first 10 verses. And for the most part, what he says is better, we’d argue with. For instance, Solomon says that ‘sorrow is better than laughter’ (v. 3). That’s hard to believe. He says, ‘it is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting’ (v. 2). Really?

  It is interesting how we deal with births and deaths. There is so much joy before the birth. There are baby showers, a lot of preparation, and a ton of excitement. When that baby is born, pictures are taken, phone calls are made and smiles are the order of the day.

  When there is a death, it’s just the opposite. A phone call in the middle of the night tells of someone dear who has passed away. What was important, no longer is. People cancel plans and travel to the funeral. There are a lot of tears, long faces, hugs and sadness prevails. A service is offered. Scriptures and prayers are used to find comfort and hope. There is a trip to the cemetery and that long walk back to the car. Something has been left at the cemetery. Emptiness fills hearts. Life changes. Many feel depressed.

  Babies or funerals? Give us the babies. Babies represent the future. Babies are fun. Funerals are not.

  How can the day of death be better than the day of birth? I believe there are some implied thoughts here. Solomon is appealing to those who are spiritual. This is written for those who will read with the idea of connecting better with God. He mentions the concept of taking things to heart, which involves reflection, inspection, and discernment. Not all will do that. Not all care. The spiritual will. The spiritual does.

  Looking at it that way, this begins to make sense. At the beginning, birth, the future is unsure. Which path will they choose? What kind of person will they become? There are many fears, dangers and concerns. At the end, death, they have completed that journey. As Paul said, the faith had been kept, the course finished, the fight fought. The right path had been chosen. The life lived in such a way that it is an illustration for others. God has been honored, remembered and glorified in that life. The end is better. They have finished and completed what God wanted. What awaits is Heaven.

  Most of us have learned some hard lessons in our life. Many of us would do things differently and better than what we did the first time. But having said that, we can’t, but if we could, most of us would not want to go back and be fourteen years old again. Not me. If I could have my mind, my heart that I have now and go back, that’s one thing, but to just be that goofy teenager I once was, again, no thanks! We’ve grown. We’ve learned. We’ve changed. We’ve become disciples of Jesus. What we thought was important, isn’t even on the radar today. What we thought we needed to be somebody, wasn’t even close to what we are now. Because of Jesus, we like who we’ve become. The time we lived before Jesus, just forgot all that. Now you are beginning to grasp what Solomon may have in mind. The end is better than the beginning (v. 8). The day of death is better than the day of birth (2). The finished project is better than the idea on a piece of paper. The day of graduation is better than the first day of school. Solomon is looking at completion, finishing what we are about, becoming who we should be.

  As we age in Christ, we ought to be getting better. The fruits of the Spirit ought to be more visible in our character. We ought to be walking more by faith and less by sight. Wisdom, reflection and grace ought to be our trademarks. Prayer should be natural and easy. We are getting better and better. We are becoming more and more like Jesus. Just as a sculptor tinkers and tinkers with a stature until finally he is pleased and reveals it to the world, so God, as the potter, is tinkering and tinkering with us. Our hearts allow that. We work with God on this. But better and better is what it should be.

  The day of death will be better than the day of birth. Now some of us need to get on the ball. We are getting older, but not better. Like an old dog, we’re just laying around not doing much these days. How come? The best is not behind us, it is ahead of us.

  This is the way God wants us to look at things.

Roger