"I've seen this kind of thing before. I call it a flash-in-the-pan deal. Someone gets all stirred up, makes changes in their life, and flies high for about a month. And then they revert to the way they were before. I don't get my hopes up anymore. I've been let down too many times in the past. Now I usually say: 'Time will tell, or we'll wait and see.'"
Whether it’s the latest miracle gadget that has changed someone’s life, the newest no-fail health elixir being feverishly promoted or the big-splash resolve by someone to amend their ways — it just seems all too common that the highly-touted ‘goodness’ fizzles out quickly and people move on to something else.
It takes more than a week or a month to build credibility. A reputation is something that is earned and evolves day by day. Losing your reputation can happen in a flash – tragically and swiftly. But earning a positive reputation is a long-haul deal – a progressive, day-by-day process. Your reputation is earned over time but can be lost over night.
The Apostle Paul wrote Timothy about the support Christian widows should receive and which ones should be enrolled for continuing assembly support. Even though you may not be a widow, all of us can learn something from his instructions regarding which widows qualify for material support. Here is what he wrote:
Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. 1Timothy 5:9-10
Paul is saying the ‘qualifying’ widow must already have had a good track record. He didn’t say she could qualify for financial support if — yes if she started doing these things. No! The ones who qualified were Christians whose life-long practice, since salvation’s day, was marked by upright moral living and faithfulness in marriage, unwavering commitment to good works, kindness, hospitality and compassion to others and who made every effort to raise their children in the fear of the Lord.
So what lesson can we learn even though we aren’t widows?
Don’t expect people’s perceptions of you to change overnight. Just because you started reading your Bible more in recent months and made a commitment, from now on, to be fully engaged in the local assembly of Christians does not mean that people will instantly and automatically consider you a ‘faithful, devoted, and helpful’ believer.
It takes a lot of time to build a reputation but no time to wreck one. You ‘earn’ respect one cent at a time. Every good and wise choice you make adds to the balance in your credibility bank.
Some Christians complain that they are never entrusted with certain responsibilities, while others are. Have I given others a reason to trust me confidently? Or do I have a spotty track record of engagement and fulfilling responsibilities?
How will people reflect on your life when you’re gone? Will they say: “She made a big turnaround this past year. She must have been trying to make up for lost time.” Or will they say: “What a reputation and legacy she left us! Christ was out-front in her life; over the years, it was so evident in all dimensions of her life.”
As good as a last-minute turnaround may be, there’s nothing like a solid, established Christian track record of consistency. Consider these verses:
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favour is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 and a similar verse can be found in 1Peter 2:12
A good name and reputation are earned one day at a time — choice by choice, deed by deed and day after day.
Celine Dion and God – Is She a Christian?
“Lord, preserve me from anything today that has the potential to damage or tarnish my reputation. Help me to build a Christian reputation that honours and glorifies the Name of Christ who was consistent each day in bringing pleasure to His Father.”
Don’t hesitate to share a thought from your personal experience or a verse that has been a blessing to you – in the comment section below. Or, if you would like to reach out privately, click below.
