"If you have to choose between a good reputation and great wealth, choose a good reputation" (Proverbs 22:1) We live in a world where the end justifies the means. People seldom care how we arrive at the destination, as long as we arrive. There is a terrible decline in the insistence on due process. These days shortcuts and "get-it-quick" syndromes are celebrated. But what does the Bible say about all these?.
Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. He was wealthy, and had money in great astounding abundance. It was even he who said that money answereth all thing (Eccl. 10:19) It seems somehow contradicting that the man who knew the value of money, and even attested to its ability to influence anything would come around and testify that a good reputation is better than riches.
A reputation is a widespread belief that someone or something has a particular characteristic, or simply that with which people know you by. By reputation, one can be known as wicked, hot-tempered, careless, wayward, trustworthy, spiritual, carnal, etc. Some of the things people know about us are bad. Granted, every aspects of our character and attitude will not be good. We may have some character flaws which we are working hard to control and overcome. That doesn't necessarily mean we have gotten a bad reputation. What people know about us is different from what people know us by. The part of us that form a reputation is that part which we generally show people, that aspect which we usually exhibit so much that it becomes what we are generally known by. That is when it becomes a reputation.
The Bible says "If you have to choose between a good reputation and GREAT wealth, choose a good reputation" In other words, a good reputation beats great wealth every and any time of the day. If great wealth answers all thing, then a good reputation is all things! The value of a good reputation cannot be over-emphasized!
To be continued...