Proverbs 22:1 (KJV)
A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.
While staying in a a hotel in a small town I noticed that the church across the street was having a service. People were jammed into the church with a standing-room-only crowd of both young and old flowing out onto the sidewalk. When I noticed a hearse by the curb, I realized it was a funeral. And given the crowd, I assumed that it was the celebration of the life of some local hero - perhaps a wealthy businessperson or a famous personality. Curious, I said to the desk clerk, "That's an amazing turnout for a funeral; it must be for a famous person in town."
"No," he replied. "He wasn't rich or famous but he was a good man."
This reminded me of the wisdom of the proverb that says, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches" (Proverbs 22:1). It's a good idea to think about what kind of legacy we are leaving for our family, friends, and neighbors. From God's perspective it's not our resume or the amount of money we've accumulated that matters but rather the kind of life we have lived.
When a friend of mine passed away, his daughter wrote, "This world has lost a righteous man and in this world that is no small thing!" It's that kind of legacy that we should be seeking for the glory of God.
Live to leave a legacy for God's glory.
A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.
While staying in a a hotel in a small town I noticed that the church across the street was having a service. People were jammed into the church with a standing-room-only crowd of both young and old flowing out onto the sidewalk. When I noticed a hearse by the curb, I realized it was a funeral. And given the crowd, I assumed that it was the celebration of the life of some local hero - perhaps a wealthy businessperson or a famous personality. Curious, I said to the desk clerk, "That's an amazing turnout for a funeral; it must be for a famous person in town."
"No," he replied. "He wasn't rich or famous but he was a good man."
This reminded me of the wisdom of the proverb that says, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches" (Proverbs 22:1). It's a good idea to think about what kind of legacy we are leaving for our family, friends, and neighbors. From God's perspective it's not our resume or the amount of money we've accumulated that matters but rather the kind of life we have lived.
When a friend of mine passed away, his daughter wrote, "This world has lost a righteous man and in this world that is no small thing!" It's that kind of legacy that we should be seeking for the glory of God.
Live to leave a legacy for God's glory.
INSIGHT
The Proverbs hold wisdom to help us live for the Lord and leave a legacy. Just for the first 8 verses of Proverbs 22 are loaded with wonderful insights about many different aspects of life. Verse 1 tells is of the value of a good name. The Hebrew word for "good name" carries with it the idea of "good repute" (Ecclesiastes 7:1 A GOOD name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth)
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