It's Your Good Name

"A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold."

- Proverbs 22:1 / NASV

When people hear your name, what do they think?  We don't always know what others think of us, and some really do not care, however, we should know and we should care.  Maybe ask a friend who you can trust to be fully honest with you.  What do people say about you?  Are they happy to see you coming or happy to see you going? 

                There is nothing more important in your striving toward success than to build a good name.  Money is not the most important thing, you will have it or lose it.  Power and position is not that important.  Reality is, the only real power you have is what is given to you and people change positions all the time.  The one thing that stays with you always and make the difference between true success and failure is your reputation - your good name.

                Part of my personal mission statement reads: "To live a life that shows the reality of Jesus Christ in the life of a believer."  We should all strive to be a living example of what it means to be a Christian.  We have all seen too many Christians whose lives have not be a real drawing card to a life following the Lord.  They can be critical, bad tempered, cheap and unreliable.  This is not what others should see from you.  Like it or not, you are an example.

                Believers should always be dependable, kind, giving, caring and encouraging.  Our biggest task is to live in such a way that those around us desire to have what we have so they can live as we live.  Employers should be so impressed with their Christian employees that they seek to hire more knowing it is the best for their business.  When you walk into a room, people should smile and be glad you are there.

                This is a tall order, but nothing less will do when we represent the Lord of lords and the King of kings.  It takes hard and consistent work, but in the end you will always agree that there is nothing more desirable or satisfying than a good name.

                Always remember that you matter to the world.  God placed you here to make a difference and that difference is good.  You possess the qualities of a real success-minded person, which are to: Be your best.  Love God.  Have good manners. Discover the unknown.  Change the world.

John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, and Life Coach. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey