What’s In A Name?

No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.

Genesis 17:5

A married couple named their new son “Foolish One.” The name stuck; and by the time Fool was a grown man, he had lived up to his name. Once, he was befriended by a stranger but incurred the stranger’s wrath when he failed to acknowledge his kindness. His wife, who was wise, did the right thing and settled Fool’s debt—the shock of which caused Fool to have a stroke. A fool from birth, in ten days Nabal was dead.

That’s right—Nabal of the Old Testament (1 Samuel 25) bore a name that, in Hebrew, means “fool.” Why would parents burden a child with such a negative name? Naming is a powerful tool in the hand of a parent or any authority figure. When we name someone, we exercise a certain power over his or her life. That person believes us—why shouldn’t he?—and thinks of himself in those terms. Just think: which would a Little League slugger rather hear from a parent in the stands: “Way to go, champ!” or “Way to go, chump!”?

Regardless of your legal name, if you’re a believer in Christ, you have a new name: Christian, meaning “Christ one” or “little Christ.” That’s a name worthy of living up to.

Names are word pictures. Paint them ever so carefully.