Shakespeare once asked, “What’s in a name?” Quite a lot actually.
Solomon wrote,
The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. (Proverbs 10:7)
When people hear the name Hitler, for example, there is immediate loathing. I doubt there are many, if any parents, willing to give their child that name.
But when people hear Biblical names like Jacob, or Noah, or Abigail, or Elizabeth, they all have positive images of them. In fact, all four were among the top names for babies in the U.S. last year.
What kind of name do you have? A lot of it will have to do with the life that you live here on earth.
Solomon wrote,
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. (Proverbs 10:1)
What is a wise person?
- It’s a person who is diligent and works hard. (4-5).
- It’s a person who is willing to accept authority, and as we mentioned yesterday, to accept correction. (8, 17)
- It’s a person who walks in integrity (9).
- It’s a person who is willing to overlook an offense and to forgive. (12).
- It’s a person from whose mouth flows life (11).
Who speaks wisdom (13, 31), who knows when to speak and when to keep it shut (19,32), and whose words nourish others (21).
Or as Paul once put it, whose words correct, rebuke, encourage, and teach (II Timothy 4:2).
What kind of person has a name which rots?
- It’s someone who is lazy (4-5, 26).
- It’s someone who refuses to take correction, and thus lacks judgment, and even leads others down the path he is going. (8, 13, 17).
- It’s someone who holds hatred in their heart and allows it to affect his relationships (11-12).
- It’s someone who has no guard on his mouth, and hurts those around him, and even himself. (8, 14, 19-21)
What kind of person are you? When people see you, what do they see? And when you are gone, what will they remember?
Will you leave behind a name that blesses those who remember you?
Or will you leave behind a name that rots?
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 