Proverbs 22 says a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favor rather than silver and gold. Before I became a Christian, my late grandfather confronted me about the way I was living as a teenager and as I was ending my high school years. He wasn't even a Christian at the time. He didn't get saved until he was about 80 years old. Thankfully, he's with the Lord now. And yet, here was my, at the time, unsaved grandpa having a talk with me about, or explaining that my behavior wasn't just affecting me, but was a black mark on the family name. I actually made a conscious effort to be more discreet for the next year or so. I became much more low-key about things as I lived my life, all because my unsaved grandfather had lectured me about the truth of this proverb, a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. Now, I had good Christian parents and we attended a Bible-believing local church, but I hadn't been teachable. So even if this was taught at the church, I wasn't there to learn anything in the first place. I just don't remember my dad saying much about the issue of a good name. My parents may have instructed me in some way about this, but it just didn't stick if they did. I just happened to be at the right time of my life when my grandpa had this talk with me. And it reinforced another talk that my great uncle Clement had had with me when I did a short stint in a drug rehab facility during my senior year of high school. Clement was a saved man and he was someone I respected, but the drugs still had my mind clouded. And again, the message was heard loud and clear, but I hadn't let it really affect me until Grandpa Harold talked to me. Then my Uncle Larry sat me down on his front porch swing and had a similar discussion with me. And I really was making efforts to make changes in my life, but I was going it alone, so to speak. It was only after I got saved that real change began to take place in my life. I was finally to the point of repentance and faith. And looking back, I'm actually glad that I failed in my attempts at self-reform. I might have been satisfied and not gone on to embrace the gospel of salvation, to be born again, and receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. And since then, though I am far from perfect, I am not sinless by any measure, I do sin less. I've never had to be lectured about hurting the good name that I was born with since that time. But I also recognize that my earthly family name, while important, isn't as important as the name I have as a member of the family of God. And I don't want to bring shame to that name, Christian. I don't want to give unbelievers the ability to mock and blaspheme my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because of my behavior. And even if you've done so along the way in your Christian walk, there is forgiveness. 1 John 1 9 promises us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I don't want to make it sound like I've been anywhere near perfect since I got saved to this point. There have been times I have failed, but God is always there to forgive. And when you confess your faults and failures to those that you've offended, as James 5.16 reminds us to do, be clear that while you fail at times, you serve a Savior who never fails. His name is Jesus Christ. And there's no better name than that name, the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Israel, the Savior of the world. And that's what it's all about. So when you make good and you repair the damaged ton when you do fail, make sure you also mention the fact that while you fail as a Christian, you serve a Christ who never fails. It's all about Jesus as we praise and glorify His name above all others. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.