May 31, 2011
It’s Your Reputation
“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 nine, ‘ 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.”
- William Shakespeare (from ‘Othello’)
Today’s Thought:
“You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” – Henry Ford
Today’s Question
Did you know that: “Until you’ve lost your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was or what freedom really is?” - Margaret Mitchell (from ‘Gone With The Wind’)
Today’s Spiritual Thought:
“Each individual in fact has moral responsibility for the acts
which he personally performs;
no one can be exempted from this responsibility,
and on the basis of it everyone will be judged by God Himself.”
- Pope John Paul II
“ A good name is better than precious ointment;...”
- The Bible (Ecclesiastes 7:1)
“As you make your bed, so you must lie in it.”
– An English Saying
“Responsible persons are mature people who have taken charge of themselves and their conduct, who own their actions and own up to them.” – William J. Bennett (from ‘The Book of Virtues A Treasury of Great Moral Stories’)
John Billings wrote, “It ain’t often that a man’s reputashun outlasts his mummy.” And Chrysipppus wrote, “Were it not so useful, a good reputation would not be worth lifting a finger to obtain.”
One’s reputation is extremely important in our day and age so it seems it might behoove us to take some care and expend some effort to ensure that we build a good, sound and responsibly respectable one.
Jesus said, “Everyone to whom much is given, of him will much be required.” – The Bible (Luke 12:48)
As Christian’s we desire much from God. We want protection, blessings, guidance, wisdom, understanding and strength and help to succeed at the endeavors we engage in. But what do we give Him?
In order to have a good reputation we need to have a Godly reputation. Anything else is less than the best and is beneath what God deserves from us.
Michael Nedelsky said, “Moral responsibility is not just a matter of avoiding harm to others; it also means helping people in need.”
It would seem to me that if we really wanted to have a quality reputation we would make a renewed commitment to be more like Jesus. Remember, His reputation was spotless for He was without sin and He always, without fail did the will of His Father.
What kind of reputation do you have? I hope it is a Godly one.
Today’s Verses:
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
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:2-7
For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Luke 6:44-45
Today’s Prayer:
Father, may I live so that my reputation will precede me to Heaven and when I stand before you may I have lived so that you can say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
