A Good Reputation: Proverbs in December, 31 Days of Proverbs
Day 22, Proverbs 22
A Good Reputation
Day 22
Welcome, Dear One, to Day 22 of our study of the Book of Proverbs in December, 31 Days of Proverbs.
In chapter 22, we will learn that a good reputation is worth more than wealth. In a world where the celebrity culture tries to teach lies, such as, “no press is bad press,” and folks run amok spewing phrases like, “don’t judge me,” for doing heinous acts for which they don’t want any accountability, it seems like the concept of a reputation is antiquated in modern society.
No one wants accountability for their past choices. And while it’s true that we can change, we can repent if we really turn from our wicked ways and our self-serving nature and begin to seek the God of Abraham as our Guide for living, without the fruit of those changes, we’re all wicked still. A wicked reputation is a real thing, whether or not society has evolved to believe that “anything goes” in this “new world.”
So what, then, is the fine line of not judging someone lest we also are judged, and judging in a way of making an assessment? How do we judge ourselves and others through a lens of understanding, rather than condemnation, to ascertain what sort of repute is ill or good? This is all so interesting to me. Maybe it is to you, also. Let’s pray before we get into chapter 22!
Prayer: Dear God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we come before You today. Search our hearts, and know us. See if there is anything wicked inside of our motives, and if there is, please, we ask, purge it from us. And may we ask this second thing of You today, that You would see fit to give us Your Righteous Judgment—not as the world judges in self-righteousness that leads to condemnation—but in true judgement, that is, discernment. Help us to see how to maintain a good reputation that is worthy of You, and also may we learn to discern the true reputations of others in such a way that will be beneficial to keeping our relationships healthy, to find people of good character who can sharpen us by their good moral compass, and who will allow us to do the same. We thank You. Amen.
Prayer:
Proverbs 22
Rather than wealth, choose a good reputation,
esteem over silver and gold.
2 Rich and poor have this in common —
Adonai made them both.
3 The clever see trouble coming and hide;
the simple go on and pay the penalty.
4 The reward for humility is fear of Adonai,
along with wealth, honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares beset the way of the stubborn;
he who values his life keeps his distance from them.
6 Train a child in the way he [should] go;
and, even when old, he will not swerve from it.
7 The rich rule the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8 He who sows injustice reaps trouble,
and the rod of his angry outburst will fail.
9 He who is generous is blessed,
because he shares his food with the poor.
10 Throw the scoffer out, and quarreling goes too;
strife and insults cease.
11 He who loves the pure-hearted and is gracious in speech
will have the king as his friend.
12 The eyes of Adonai protect [the man with] knowledge,
but he overturns the plans of a traitor.
13 A lazy man says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed if I go out in the street!”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
the man with whom Adonai is angry falls into it.
15 Doing wrong is firmly tied to the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far away from him.
16 Both oppressing the poor to enrich oneself
and giving to the rich yield only loss.
17 Pay attention, and listen to the words of the wise;
apply your heart to my knowledge;
18 for it is pleasant to keep them deep within you;
have all of them ready on your lips.
19 I want your trust to be in Adonai;
this is why I’m instructing you about them today.
20 I have written you worthwhile things
full of good counsel and knowledge,
21 so you will know that these sayings are certainly true
and bring back true sayings to him who sent you.
22 Don’t exploit the helpless, because they are helpless,
and don’t crush the poor in court,
23 for Adonai will plead their case for them
and withhold life from those who defraud them.
24 Don’t associate with an angry man;
make no hot-tempered man your companion.
25 If you do, you may learn his ways
and find yourself caught in a trap.
26 Don’t be one of those who give pledges,
guaranteeing loans made to others;
27 for if you don’t have the wherewithal to pay,
they will take your bed away from underneath you.
28 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone
set up by your ancestors.
29 Do you see a man skilled at his work?
He will serve kings, not obscure people.
Today’s Thought: A good reputation is better than wealth. What does this mean? How does one go about earning a good reputation? And how rare is it in today’s day and time for someone to be as concerned with their repute as they are with their finances?
Well, dear studier of Proverbs, that’s all we have for today. If you aren’t presently subscribed to receive this study in your inbox each day, and you’d like to be, you can subscribe below.
Until tomorrow, God-willing, may we each seek to have a good reputation, a name that brings glory to the God of Israel. Amen!
Love y’all bunches!
Heather