DEVOTION – DAY 119

Prov.22:1 “Valuing Our Reputations”

 

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

 

If we look around us today, there are many people who would not agree with the above verse because many believe that what is most important to them is to have a lot of wealth and position in society. Many believe that if they have a lot of money, they will be able to get people to do what they want. Money will be able to buy them the loyalty and support of people. That is why we see many examples of corrupt politicians and businessmen who do not care if they do things that are against the law so long as they make a lot of money and they can buy their way out of trouble or getting caught in their corrupt ways. Many people do not see much value in keeping a good reputation and keeping their honour if it does not enable them to get ahead in life.

But the writer of Proverbs teaches that a good name is more important than great riches. If someone has a good reputation for being honest and trustworthy,  God will honour that person, This is because when a person guards his or her good reputation, that person will also want to obey and follow God and His Word. A person who values his or her good reputation higher than great riches is someone who is interested in the long term. He or she is interested in how God sees him or her.

In January, a scandal broke out regarding the popular Chinese actress Zheng Shuang. She was one of the top actresses in China and her fame brought her riches. But one thing she lacked was children. It was reported that she and her boyfriend decided to have two children in the US by means of paying two women to bear their children. It was reported she did that in order to preserve her good looks and figure. But she later changed her mind but by which time, the pregnancies were too advanced for abortions. When the babies were born, it was reported she did little to help raise the babies. When the scandal broke out, her reputation was badly affected and she lost many valuable endorsement contracts. There were calls for her to be boycotted  and charged for the way she had the babies and rejected them. She is learning the hard way that a good reputation is indeed more valuable than great riches. Money can be earned back when lost, it is much harder to rebuild one’s reputation once it is blackened.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for the wisdom that lies in Your Word. Help us to safeguard and value our reputations more than riches. Help us to submit and follow your Will always. In the precious name of the Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. Who do you know are examples of people who value riches over their reputations? Share.
  2. What do you think happened to their reputations and how does that affect them now? Discuss.
  3. How do you safeguard your own reputation?
  4. How important is your reputation to you and why? Discuss.