A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. – Proverbs 22:1 (NIV)

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. – Proverbs 22:1(KJV)

52 Proverbs in 52 Weeks – Week 28
This week’s theme:  God’s Life Hacks, simple Biblical truths to increase the fruitfulness and happiness of our lives.

God’s Life Hack:  Protect your reputation.

King Solomon added over 25 tons of gold–that’s over 50,000 lbs of gold–to his wealth every year (see 2 Chronicles 9:13).  Today that would be worth over a billion dollars a year.  Yet here in Proverbs 22:1 he states that there is something more valuable than all of that gold:  a “good name.”

A good reputation is one of the most valuable things we can possess, so it only makes sense that we should protect it.  Ben Franklin once said:
It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.
Oh how true that is!  Our reputations are built upon the things we do, the things we say, the places we go (or don’t go), and the company we keep (see  Who Do You Walk With).  If we’re known as people who are trustworthy, honest, humble, and kind, it’s because our actions have put those characteristics on display.  On the other hand, we all know individuals whose actions have generated less desirable reputations…troublemaker, dishonest, arrogant, mean-spirited, etc.  In short, we protect a “good name” with the things we say and do. 
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right – Proverbs 20:11 (KJV)

My wife and I frequently send our kids off to activities with something like this:  “You represent our family…make sure you protect our family name.”  In closing, let’s not forget that we, as Christians, also represent God’s family.  Let’s make sure our words and actions protect our family name.

Here’s the link to more verse posts on  God’s Life Hacks.

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