The Greater Value: Riches or a Good Reputation

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Do you want people to listen to you and what you have to say? There’s something that will help. Do you want people to like you? There’s something that will help? Do you want to be able to help people and influence them toward God and His will for their lives? There’s something that will help. It’s called a good reputation. A reputation is the general estimation in which a person is held by those around them, or by the public, and by God. When the way that people generally perceive you is great, you are likely to have a great reputation. That reputation will bring you favor with God and man.

Proverbs 22:1 NIV says, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”

Luke 1:28 NIV says, “The angel went to Mary and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” This meant that she had a good reputation in the Lord’s eyes.

Daniel 10:11 NIV says, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” Daniel had a good reputation in God’s eyes.

Acts 13:22 NJKV talking about David says, “And when God had removed King Saul, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the [son] of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.” David had a good reputation in God’s eyes.

The Apostle Paul taught that to be effective as a leader that it was necessary to develop a good reputation. In 1 Timothy 3:7 NIV, he said, an overseer “must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”

A good reputation is something that is built with people over time. Contributing factors to a great reputation include having proven yourself through faithfulness, humility, kindness and integrity. A good reputation is something powerful that cannot be bought. It is a process of character building where the heart’s motivation is developed, shaped, and corrected by God’s Word and the Holy Spirit over time. There becomes an increasingly good and godly pattern of life formed that becomes visible for others to see. A good reputation will cause you to have favor with God and man. And in many ways, it will deliver blessings to your life.

In the mid 80’s I owned and ran a commercial painting company. I only ever advertised once in the history of the company. That was when I started the company. The first job I got, I did what the homeowner contracted me to do. I had decided that at the end of every job, I would ask what other small job I could do for them as a gift from our company. We always gave them more than they paid for and took care of even the slightest complaint. I also always tried to shine with God’s love, and if the door was open, share the love of Jesus.

After that first job, I never had to advertise again. The client called a friend and referred me. We did a great job for them and the referrals began to multiply. I never had to look for work again. That was the way it was for five years. We had great favor. The Lord would just move on people’s hearts and they would tell others about us. That’s why a good reputation is better than riches.

Trying to correct a bad reputation is like trying to turn a ship with an oar. It is done only with great effort for great periods of time and even then it’s difficult at best. A good reputation carries momentum. It’s like the snowball going down hill that grows. It’s
build out of constant love and faithfulness and wins you favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:3-4 (NIV) “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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