by Barbara Brinkworth
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” Prov. 22:1
According to William Shakespeare, “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” While that may be true, the name of something brings to mind immediately many characteristics of the thing mentioned. This is true when the name of a person is mentioned.
Many people in the Bible have certain characteristics or images forever associated with their names. Some of these are positive and some negative. Here are a few of them:
- Jezebel — wickedness
- Ruth — faithfulness
- Judas — betrayer
- David — giant slayer
- Moses— great leader
- Elisha — great follower
- Barnabas — comforter
- Daniel — courageous
- Sarah — submissive
- Cain — murderer
- Samson — great strength
When your own name is mentioned in conversation, what characteristics or images come into the minds of the people in that group? Susie, the encourager; Michael, the late one; Ethel, the giving one; Jerome, the negative one?
What your name represents to others is very important. If you are not content with what your name means to others, today would be a good day to start making some changes.
Sis Barbara,
Hope you are doing well. Enjoyed this again this morning.
Great devotional! Thank you. I enjoy these each morning!
We dont own our souls God does .
That’s profound. I gotta think about that.
Sis Brinkworth,
When my brother married a lady from Chevy Chase Maryland (city girl) my wife and I sent a subscription to the local newspaper to them, hoping to woo them back to the country. One of the things that interested her the most was the News of Record. For those of you that don’t know what that is…in small town america if you have a run in with the law, get married, get divorced, buy or sell property, it is published in the paper. Your name is put in the paper! I am not sure if that was a deterrent to me or not when I was a kid, but drunk driving, drugs, etc…do not give one a good name AND people remember.
I had a relative when I was a child that was accused of embezzling a sum of money, that was 40 years ago, and I still discuss that with people from time to time trying to figure out how I fit into that. I had another relative that was a local district Judge that didn’t display good judgement and got in trouble himself….That was 30 years ago and people still associate me with that.
On the other hand I had 2 sets of grandparents that enjoyed excellent reputations in the community and I am still living off that goodwill and good name.
One should guard their witness at all costs. Ruining your name as a Christian not only reflects badly on you, but on your Brothers and Sisters in Christ, your Church, and worst of all it brings a stain and reproach on the name of Jesus.
Thanks again for the Brinkworths taking the time to prepare these excellent devotions and also allowing this little forum for people like me to sharpen themselves to be better witnesses for Him!
Amen. The two most important things anyone owns is their soul and name!