Reputation

Reputation = Estimation of a person in the sight of God or other people.  Being held in good opinion or bad by others.  How is your reputation?  We want to have a good reputation in the sight of God, don't we?  Of course it will cause others to have a good opinion of us too, usually.  Unless they are driven by satan to hate Christianity.  To me, loving others is a big factor in having a good reputation.  People need loved and love has broken many barriers down.  If you let people know that you love them, it makes a world of difference in there life.  Whenever they see you, their countenance lights up and a big smile will develop, I know from experience.  I never knew how much love played in the life of the Christian until two or three years ago, and it makes all the difference in the world.  Really it does.  So if you want a good reputation, love others and be humble in doing it.

Proverbs 22:1  "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver or gold."

Daniel 6:4  "So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful, or was there any error or fault found in him." Daniel had a good reputation with God, didn't he?  We don't always have that kind of reputation with the world if we serve God, I'm sure we will meet Daniel in heaven because of his good reputation with God.  Can't wait to meet all God's warriors of old, Daniel, Moses, Abram, Joseph, so many that fought a good fight and kept the faith. There are many others too, but you know what I mean.  To hear their life story or their experience in overcoming will be fabulous.  If they want to talk about it, they may be so happy to be there that they will forget all about their earthly woes.

Acts 6:3  "Therefore brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business." The business they were talking about was the work of the church.  The apostles wanted to spend their time studying with people and preaching the gospel, and there were members in the church that needed assistance and they couldn't do it all, so they appointed seven men called deacons to take care of the needs of the people.

Romans 16: 14,18  "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned and avoid them.  For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple."  These don't have a very good reputation, do they?

James 4:4  "Adulterers and adultresses!  Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
 And neither do these.

1 John 4:5,6  "They are of the world.  Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.  We are of God.  He who knows God hears us; He who is not of God does not hear us.  By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error."  This is how we know a good reputation and a bad one.

If someone has a stern countenance, and seldom smiles, there is something wrong with their spiritual life.  I am not the judge but 'by their fruits you will know them' so it seems to be alright to judge the fruits of people you want to associate with and also to be your friends, because friends can either lift you up or pull you down, and pulling a person down is a good sign their reputation is of no value to you, so beware.  Search out those who lift you up in a spiritual way and you will be safe.  I hope this study has encouraged you to have the best reputation possible and to love others as Christ loves you and you will have an excellent reputation.  Grandma Joan