If you were to ask God to change your name, what would you want your name to be, or mean?
Someone asked me this once, and it made me pause and think.
To be honest, my name has always been just a name to me, nothing more than a way to identify myself from among the millions of other human beings living on the planet. It means no more, or no less, than any other name. At least, that’s what I’ve always thought.
The Bible says this in Proverbs 22:1… “It is better to be respected than to be rich. A good name is worth more than silver or gold.”
A good name…but, what does this mean exactly? How can a name be good, or bad? Perhaps, just maybe, a good name means more than just words on a birth certificate.
Let’s play a game. I’m going to name a few names and you take note of the first thought that comes to mind when you read them. Ready?
- Hitler
- Jeffrey Dahmer
- Ghandi
- OJ Simpson
- Helen Keller
- Billy Graham
What were your first thoughts? These names are after all, just names. But for me, when I think of them I can’t help but think of what they are associated with. Each name carries with it their reputations, their acts, whether for good or for bad. Each name is defined by who they are, or were.
A good name is more than just a name, and that places such a huge responsibility on my part. My name will be shaped by my decisions, by my actions, by my words and by my heart. My name will also affect those who know me.
If my name is tied to my actions, and my actions are tied to my relationship with Christ, shouldn’t I worry more about maintaining a good reputation than seeking what this world has to offer? Will my life point people to Christ, or will it repel them?
Honestly, I don’t know what name I would choose if given a choice. But I do know that I want my name to be a reflection of God’s grace, so that when someone thinks of me they think of Christ. If I do nothing else in this world then I’ve accomplished God’s purpose.