A good name is to be chosen rather than riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.

Proverbs 22:1, NKJV

A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

Ecclesiastes 7:1, NKJV

There are so many verses in the Bible that would lead us to understand the significance of a person’s name. The two quoted above are only a sampling of many others that could be cited to cause us to realize how extremely important it is to seek after and to maintain a good reputation.

Pause for a few seconds, or perhaps even a few minutes, to ponder how people from your past would remember you now. I sometimes think about people whom I knew in my youth and early adulthood and wonder how they would remember me from those days of high school and college. I would like to think they would have fond memories of me, but sadly, they probably do not.

I was not much of one to give serious thought to protecting my family name by the way I conducted myself. As a matter of fact, I probably didn’t give it any serious consideration at all. I can’t remember even once when I mentally assessed how my actions would reflect on my family name.

Now that you have taken a few moments to think about how people from your past would remember you, think about some of those that you knew in the past and consider what comes to mind when you remember them. There are some you may remember as partiers, never giving serious thought to much of anything. Others may bring painful memories as you think about how they hurt you in some way. Still others may bring a huge smile to your face as you think about the positive impact they had on you and others.

Of course, our memories of those in the past are based on those memories. I would like to think that some of those from my past would be pleasantly surprised at the person I have become since those early days, but at the same time I am sincerely sorry for the poor reputation I had back then.

But I am so glad that the past does not determine the present. I am so glad that God, in His grace, gives opportunities to change. And, with that change of behavior comes a change of reputation. At this point of my life, there are those who would be shocked if I shared with them the kind of person I was in my youth and young adulthood, just as there are those from back then who would be shocked to learn of the kind of person I have become.

I can’t change my past – it is what it is. But I don’t have to be chained to the past, nor the reputation I may have had in the past. As a matter of fact, as a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, my life should now reflect the reality of my relationship with Him. Paul says that as we grow closer to Jesus our lives should bear a close resemblance to Him. Read these words carefully:

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Romans 8:29

I am a Stewart. I represent those who have come before, and I should be an example to those coming after. I should seek a good name over the riches of the world, and I should never do anything that would tarnish the Stewart name.

But more importantly, I am now a representative of Jesus Christ. As Paul says, I should be conforming more and more to His image as I walk in intimate fellowship with Him. I represent His name. As I profess to be a Christ-follower, my behavior should reflect the reality of that profession. If I behave in an ungodly manner, then I not only tarnish the Stewart name, but I also bring reproach to Jesus’ name.

Many years ago, I chose these words from Paul’s pen as my life verse:

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31, NKJV

First and foremost, I am to represent Jesus Christ by doing all that I do for His glory. I should strive for that kind of reputation. Doing so will certainly protect my family name against being tarnished, but much more importantly, it will never tarnish the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And that is more important than any amount of silver or gold!

Blessings.