"If you have to choose between a good reputation and great wealth, choose a good reputation" (Proverbs 22:1) God knows the temptation that money brings. The thought of the goodness it brings with it - the respect, the power, the happiness, the comfort, the security. When most people weigh all these possibilities against a good reputation, they feel like the benefits of wealth supersede that of a good reputation. But the Bible disagrees..
God knows that given the choice, most people will choose great wealth over a good reputation. In fact, most people do. Our politicians are doing it. The media are doing it. Our police officers are doing it. Judges are doing it, even pastors and men of God are doing. These days good reputation are constantly being sacrificed at the altar of wealth. Everybody is in the rat-race to acquire wealth so much that little or no attention is paid to the reputation being built along the way.
God is not saying that great wealth isn't good. He is saying that it is not worth losing your good reputation over. Any wealth that costs you your reputation will hurt you in the end. Listen to what the Bible says in verse 16 of the same chapter:
"He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want." (Proverbs 22:16)
The Bible gives two examples of how people wrongly acquire great wealth and destroy their reputation in the process. One is by oppressing the poor, and the other is by giving gifts to the rich. The Bible is not saying that giving gifts to rich people is bad, but what the Bible refers to in this situation is bribing(Read more on this on Benson's Commentery on this verse.The Bible says that both methods may help you acquire great wealth, but you will lose your good reputation in the process - and eventually come to poverty.
A good reputation is valueless. It cannot be compared to anything in value. Money may answer all things; but a good reputation is everything. God is saying don't think that having a good reputation doesn't matter, it does! Don't think that all that matters is making money, because it isn't. Many people have fallen victim of the satanic lie that all that matters in the end is how much money you have. But that is not true. God is so much interested in your reputation, especially if you are His child. He wants you to have great wealth; but NEVER at the expense of your reputation.
Your reputation is everything! Guard it.