True Riches: The
Value of a Good Name
A good name is more
desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
(Proverbs 22:1)
We live in a world where the question “what’s in it for me?”
is the measuring rod of all that people do and say. We see it as nations jostle
for position as they protect their own interests. It will surely be seen in
individuals as a vaccine for the Covid-19 virus is developed, wanting to make
sure that they get the shot that will ensure their safety.
This is a world that complains about the integrity of
politicians as they make lofty promises, but deliver little. A “dog-eat-dog”
mentality rules the business sector and corruption is not only expected, there
are times that it is applauded. I wish I could say that followers of Christ
live radically different than others around them, but that is often not the case.
What’s a person to do in such a world?
The Greek word for sincerity helps me understand the value
of a good name. The literal translation, Sin
Cera, or “without wax” refers to a marketplace description. Vendors of
marble statues would cover blemishes in their artwork with a white pasty wax,
and polish the final product. If a statue was “sincere,” it would be placed in
the direct sunlight where such cover-ups would quickly be exposed.
The heat of
the day would show whether or not it was without wax.
In the same way, it is in the midst of the pressures and temptations
of life that our sincerity is revealed. A good name (integrity of character in
word and deed) is described in this verse as something more desirable than
riches; more important than what we get in return for our actions and words. It
is one of the ways that we please God, and stand out from others. It is one
area in which I need the Holy Spirit to produce Christ-like character and the
Fruit of the Spirit in me. That’s my prayer today as I face the
pressures of life; as I face the challenges of living in a Covid-19 world.
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