A good name is more desirable than great wealth. Respect is better than silver or gold. (Proverbs 22:1 GWT)
We live in a place of many choices. I chose my degree, I chose my career, and I even chose my wife. But there are things that we could not choose. I did not choose my parents, I did not choose where I was born, my hair color, my height, or my race. We even have very little involvement in choosing our personalities. Our personalities are shaped by the influences in our lives and how God created us to be.
In the Old Testament days names were given as a reminder of an event, person, place, or thing. Sometimes a name is given in hopes that the child will fit the name. Most names have meaning to them - Adam means "man," Eve means "to breathe," Asher means "blessed," Mara means "bitter." Today, parents choose names for a myriad of reasons: it sounds good, after a loved one, a meaning, or just because. Names are generally given to the child before a child's looks, behavior, or purpose is known.
While we did not choose our names, we can choose to attach our reputation to them. Do others tag my name, Arnold, with ill-tempered, a cheater, selfish, proud, and unkind or do they tag my name with Jesus follower, loving, kind, faithful? You may not have chosen your name, but you can choose to have a "good" name. The respect behind the good name is priceless.
We live in a place of many choices. I chose my degree, I chose my career, and I even chose my wife. But there are things that we could not choose. I did not choose my parents, I did not choose where I was born, my hair color, my height, or my race. We even have very little involvement in choosing our personalities. Our personalities are shaped by the influences in our lives and how God created us to be.
In the Old Testament days names were given as a reminder of an event, person, place, or thing. Sometimes a name is given in hopes that the child will fit the name. Most names have meaning to them - Adam means "man," Eve means "to breathe," Asher means "blessed," Mara means "bitter." Today, parents choose names for a myriad of reasons: it sounds good, after a loved one, a meaning, or just because. Names are generally given to the child before a child's looks, behavior, or purpose is known.
While we did not choose our names, we can choose to attach our reputation to them. Do others tag my name, Arnold, with ill-tempered, a cheater, selfish, proud, and unkind or do they tag my name with Jesus follower, loving, kind, faithful? You may not have chosen your name, but you can choose to have a "good" name. The respect behind the good name is priceless.