A Good Reputation

Ruth 3:11 “Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter.  I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are an honorable woman.”

What are you known as around town?  Everyone who knows you or does business with you has an opinion of you.  They observe how you act and talk.  They know whether or not you are trustworthy by how responsible you are and how much integrity you display.  They know how you treat them and others.  No one lives in a bubble totally isolated from human contact.  We are by nature of our existence observable. 

Are you known in the way you want to be known by?  If not, why not?  You don’t have to be the person others see and know.  If you want others to have a higher opinion of you, then you need to change the way you think and act.  No one can make the changes that need to be made in you but you.  God gives us the will to change when we let Him have control of our wills.

Are you working hard at maintaining a good reputation?  It does take a lot of work on our part.  Good character comes from a good heart rooted in Christ.  The pressures to say and do things out of character for a child of God are great and never ending.  It takes determination and effort on our part to stay out of sinful practices.  Satan is a master at exploiting our weakness and delights in our messing up.  We must diligently resist him every day.

A good reputation can easily be destroyed by a momentary lack of judgment or resolve.  We must stay close to the Lord and draw from Him our strength and abide in His protection.  When we stumble and fall people don’t easily forget.  Our sin may haunt us for the rest of our lives. 

Protect your soul at all times by staying close to the Lord.  Do not neglect your time in His Word and in your prayer closet.  Stay in close fellowship with God’s children.  Make it your life work to serve the Lord in all you do.  People will notice and so will God.  May each of us be welcomed home by the Lord with open arms for a job well done.