A Good Name

A Good Name

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Proverbs 22:1 (NIV)

When I received my first Bible, it came with a bookmark that read “Tricia, Noblewoman” and included the words of Proverbs 22:1. At the time I didn’t understand that verse. If someone gave me great riches, silver or gold, I’d have been happy to change my name to Heather or Dawn. I didn’t realize until later that our name is a reflection of who we are. Our “name” is our reputation or character, and having a good reputation is worth a lot. In the book Our Amish Neighbors, the author describes common Amish names:

One learns here that the good old biblical names are still common with the Amish but are in competition with modern or more euphonious ones. The names of the children of large families are often a study in contrasts. In one family there are, for example, Benjamin, Samuel, Isaac, Stephen, John, Israel, Christ, Barbara, Mary, Hannah, Annie, Mattie, and Lizzie. Another family has chosen these names for its children: Sarah, Lizzie, Samuel, Benjamin, John, Annie, Marie, Daniel, David, Enos, Sylvia, and Malinda. Then there are three Amish brothers named Isaac, Levi, and Elmer. One wonders how Vesta, Delila, Dena, Saloma, Drusilla, or Verba, or boys’ names like Junie, Venus, or Aquilla came into strict Christian families?

This book quoted above was written in 1962, but not much has changed. Amish families still use biblical or traditional names. I’ve never heard of an Amish child named Brittney or Cayden, and I’d be surprised if I ever did.

Have you ever taken time to consider how your name represents you? How do people respond when they hear your name—that says a lot about who you are and how you display yourself to the world.

God proved that a good name matters by honoring His Son in that way. “God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” Philippians 2:9-10.

Take a moment and lift up Jesus’ name today. Not because you have to but simply because you can.

Dear Jesus, I thank You that someday Your name will be exalted high above the earth!