Name Fame And Game Series

Text: Proverbs 22:1-8

Theme: Debt free Life

Text:

Proverbs 22:1. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,    and favour is better than silver or gold. … 4. The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honour and life. … 6. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. 7. The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”

Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever.

Today I would like to talk about debts free life: a good name, a good fame and a good game.

Introduction to the Sermon:

The Jewish Tradition assigns authorship of three biblical books to Solomon. The rabbis said that Solomon wrote the ‘Song of Solomon’ as an amorous youth, the ‘Proverbs’ as a middle-aged man, and the ‘Ecclesiastes’ as a disillusioned old man. The book of Proverbs is the preeminent book of “Wisdom” in the Old Testament, and so is understandably associated with Solomon, the epitome of wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34).

?A good name (v.1-3)

In Hebrew thought, a name was usually regarded as expressing a vital truth about a person's inner character. The Hebrew “good favor” meaning a good reputation or high esteem. This is not about celebrity or fame with which our culture is so fanatical. It is neither physical beauty nor other ephemeral qualities.

A good name, a good reputation, is something earned over many years. It implies integrity, honesty, and responsibility. It cannot be bought and worth more than all the riches in the world. A good name makes a man easy and safe, supposes a man wise and honest, and redounds to the glory of God.

We should be more careful to do that by which we may get and keep a good name, than to raise or add unto a great estate. A good name among good men, a name in the house of God, which is better than sons and daughters; a new name, the name of the children of God, which no man knows but he that receives it.

Enduring word: we can earn Wealth through many means but the wealth of respect and recognised excellence in character is valuable beyond great riches that is the good name. The man or woman who appreciates the value of a good name recognises that it is worth more than silver and gold.

This good name proceeding from a good conscience, this honour from virtue (Isaiah 43:4). “The perfume of faith and obedience, the splendour and sparkle of the ‘white stone,’ which only shines upon heavenly hearts – is far more desirable than great riches.” (Trapp).

Given the choice between a good reputation and a million dollars, many people would prefer the money. However, Solomon notes that it's better to be known for integrity and morality than to be wealthy and associated with sin (Proverbs3:1-5, 19:1 but read 2 Peter 1:5-8,11).

Money cannot directly buy happiness, peace, security, or eternal life. It has many advantages, but those are all temporary. The real life is found in Christ. The spiritual maturity which leads to a good reputation leads to trust and honor. Proverbs chapter 31 describes the woman whose reputation is blameless. Money cannot buy the admiration and love of others, but a noble character that creates a good reputation can earn the admiration and love of many people.

Riches are greatly esteemed in the world. But they do not contribute to happiness of life. Dr. Constable says: ‘A good name is an asset whose currency is unaffected by the boom or bust of the material world.’

A good name is better than precious ointment (Ecclesiastes 7:1). The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot (Proverbs 10:7). Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone (3 John 12). He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium (Acts 6:2). “As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour” (Ecclesiastes 10:1).

“When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.” (Billy Graham).

?A good fame (v. 2-4).

The people of babel wanted to establish a name to keep their fame.

God called Abraham and told him to establish his name great name.

Absalom wanted to establish pillar in his name to make his name great and remembered by people.

Nebuchadnezzar built a palace to establish his name famous in history.

Where the fear of God is, there will be humility. And much is to be enjoyed by it; spiritual riches, and eternal life at last. These two qualities are connected. Humility is a proper view of self; fear of the LORD is a proper view of God. The person who has these two qualities is well on their way on the path to wisdom. The most humble Christian is the most triumphant Christian. He may be depressed, discouraged and go through losses and failures but he is highly exalted. He has the wealth of grace and of glory. Nobody can deprive him of these.