What is Your Reputation?

Let this mind be in you, which

was also in Christ Jesus:

Who being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to b e

equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:5-7

Because of our moving as much as we have, when joining a new church, I often find that as we get acquainted, church members seem to want to tell us about others in the church we may not have met yet.  Most of the time, those people will be kind and even complimentary.  However, there are those quick to let us know what to look for in certain others such as:

*  "She is very wealthy and will be quick to let you know about it."

*  "Be careful what you tell her because it'll be around the church by Sunday."

*  "She is very pushy."

*  "If she doesn't get her way, everyone will pay for it."

*  "Watch out if she's in a bad mood."

*  "She's attractive on the outside BUT..."

Believe it or not, I have heard all of those things said about fellow church members.  When one is new to the church though, it's hard to put the comment about someone with their face.  No matter who you are, you can't help but be affected by those comments.  However, I guess it's all too common for folks to clue in the new person on the block.

When it comes to reputation though, the sad thing is that when we hear the word, we tend to immediately think of negative things.  The kindest person in your church has come to be known for that quality and when "kindness" is attached to her name, that's a part of her reputation.  Some things that I have heard on the more positive side are:

*  "There's not a mean bone in her body."

*  "She has a heart as big as her body."

*  "She would give you the shirt off of her back."

*  "It there's a job to be done, folks call on her."

*  "Don't gossip around her...she'll walk away."

*  "She has a beautiful singing voice."

The list could go on and on with both lists.  A person's reputation are those personal qualities a person is known by.  For most people who know us, when our name is mentioned, a picture will emerge in the mind of the listener.  Sometimes, a person's reputation is deliberately smeared and damaged by people for their own reasons and it's just not fair. 

There are some things my husband is known for by anyone who has done business with him.  I don't know that I can recall in 43 years of marriage when he has been late in paying a bill.  He has a system where he carefully tracks what has been mailed and what is next to be mailed.  Our credit rating is about as high as any one's can be.  If you want to rile Brian up, refer to him as a dead-beat.  I feel bad for a company that bills Brian for something that he paid off three weeks ago.  This is just an area of Brian's life where he is squeaky clean. 

Anyone who has dealt with Brian in business knows by now that he is a person of integrity.

In most cases, we establish our own reputation whether positive or negative.  For most people, they may not care if they are viewed as being honest or dishonest, hard working or lazy, loving or spiteful, generous or stingy.  In the long run for we Christians, our testimony for Christ may rest upon the reputation we have established for ourselves.

I have also known people who work very hard at establishing their reputation so that people will think the very best of them.  Reputations usually are revealed in a very natural way, simply revealing who we are.  We rarely sit down and take inventory of who and what we are in the eyes of others.  Outsiders may try to damage one's good reputation.  We may damage our own reputations.  The only real help available for a damaged reputation is in the damage control that only god can provide.

Let's remember that Jesus came from Heaven, a baby to a godly couple to be raised in the dust, dirt and nitty-gritty of this old world.  As He grew to manhood, any number of times, He could have pulled rank..."Don't you know I'm the Son of God...I'm special so treat me different from other people."   He could have come off as some kind of spoiled brat, after all, His Father was/is  THE God of the universe, owning the cattle on a thousand hills."  No, He didn't come to be known as we think of popularity.  In fact in His ministry, He downplayed His miracles.  He, at times, didn't even want His name used very much.  He was very low key when it came to flaunting who He was.

Jesus according to our verses in the beginning, came not wanting to make some huge name for Himself.  Even He said of Himself that He came to seek and save those who were lost.  He came with the attitude of being a servant, not to be served but to serve.  He was a  people person, looking out for the needs of others.  However, Jesus' reputation was pretty much known depending on who you talked to.  There were those who raved about Jesus...those he taught, fed and healed.  There was though an element who didn't have a good think to say about Him.  The religious muckity-mucks accused him of false claims, such as not keeping the law.

So what do we do.  We live like Jesus did.  Jesus just went about the business of loving and helping people.  From what we can tell, almost on a daily basis, he was ministering in the lives of others.  He kept in close contact with His Father...a Man of prayer.  He was in and taught the Scriptures.  He made the right kind of close friends but didn't shy away from the sinful ones who needed His help.  You see, as long as Jesus was doing what was right, His reputation would take care of itself.  He wasn't out to gain a doting following of groupies.

With all of that, it would appear that Jesus' reputation was a sterling one.  No...even the Perfect One in some circles spoke ill of Him, accusing, pointing out what they saw to be His faults.  May I say that the same will happen to us.  Jesus said that if He was persecuted, what makes us think we, His followers won't be.  No matter how pristeenly you and I try to live, there will be the accusers ready to tear us down for their own recreation if nothing else.

Let's determine to not be out to make for ourselves some show off kind of reputation, so that people in general will feel we are something wonderful.  Let's dump the prideful attitudes and take on the mind of Christ and the role of servanthood as well.  Let's leave our reputation with Him with the caution that we live a clean, circumspect life that will please our Lord.

Dear Lord...I want to much to be more like You.  I know I can only do that in Your Holy Spirit power so please empower me to live my life for You and others.  Help me to be alert to protect the good reputations of others, never tearing down Christian brothers and sisters.  May I not be busy about building a hyped-up reputation for myself but to bring glory to You in all I do.  I love you.....Amen.