Ecclesiastes 7:1. “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.”
A GOOD NAME #2. The time of the handshake of trust and contract is gone. A man’s name was as good as his word in the not too distant past. Labor done, jobs taken and promised, money borrowed and loaned, actions were taken because of a good name. The look in the eye of serious intent and the name of your father or your father’s father was good enough to seal the deal. The name of one’s forbearers was enough to give emphasis to good conduct and speech. You were expected to bear a good name with honor and dignity. The reputation of generations of people was on your shoulders and you bore the good name with pride. That name came from the dim and distant past. It is not necessary to go into the misty past because doubtless there will be skeletons in some closet back there. But go back as far as reasonable recollection and trace the path of those whose good name you carry. They were not perfect people, but they were known and spoken of with respect.
For nearly 200 years my family name has been associated with believers in Christ who gather in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. May God help me and my children to not sully that reputation that was carved out of a strong commitment to scriptural principles. There are differences in the practices now than way back then. People then had the flexibility of a new work. At times I am sure to us it would seem things were out of control because they were not so fashionable or orderly as we think things should be. A business or a church when young is flexible but difficult to control. As maturity comes controllability increases and flexibility decreases. But the good name was part of the pressure that attempted to keep the balance necessary to stability and growth. In the aging process of both a business and a church, they lose both flexibility and controllability and are in danger of annihilation. A good name to live up to, gives a strong incentive to continue on without having a whole lot to encourage.
The commitment of one with a good name to another person, whether it be in marriage or in business, challenges me to nurture, preserve, enhance, develop and dignify that person or work I am associated with. There are expectations that go along with a good name. The public knows what is expected of a person with that name. People I do not even know have an idea of what is expected from a person with that name. The generations of the past have poured the ointment of their character on that name. They have put the perfume of their faithful words to that name. They have staked their life and hopes on that name. The good name of a family of many known generations is worth the effort to preserve intact.
But the name that spreads its’ scented perfume far and wide is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name with the soothing ointment to take care of the hurts and battle-scars of life is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name that is as ointment poured forth, “therefore do the virgins love Thee,” is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name that moves the heart of God when it gives authority to prayers made is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name that remains unsullied amidst all the failures of men and nations is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name that gives power to the word of the Gospel is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name that saves lost souls is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name that God esteems above every other name is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is better than precious ointment! It is as ointment poured out spreading its goodness everywhere!
“Heavenly Father, I can remember as a boy singing in Sunday School, “The name of Jesus is so sweet, I love its music to repeat…” I haven’t forgotten the hymn, or the name, or the blessings that come when we ask in His name. I honor that name here in this room before Thee alone, the name which is above every name, Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”