Johnny Cash: "A Boy Named Sue"

This song proves how important a person's name is. Some parents give their child a name which becomes a stigma for the poor child. Such is the case in this country hit which you can hear here.

Unlike the father in the song, our heavenly Father understands the value of a person's name. As he inspired Solomon to write in Proverbs 22:1 (Bible in Basic English), "A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold."

And unlike that absent father, our Father doesn't deliberately anger his spiritual children. As Paul advised human fathers in Ephesians 6:4 (BBE), "And, you fathers, do not make your children angry: but give them training in the teaching and fear of the Lord."

God, with good reason, is protective about his name. Look at what Leviticus 19:12 (BBE) warns. "And do not take an oath in my name falsely, putting shame on the name of your God: I am the Lord."

Back when the scriptures were penned, children were given meaningful names. We read of one example in Genesis 27:36 (BBE) when Esau found out how Jacob swindled him out of his birthright blessing. "And he said, 'Is it because he is named Jacob that he has twice taken my place? for he took away my birthright, and now he has taken away my blessing.' And he said, 'Have you not kept a blessing for me?'"

Johnny Cash: "A Boy Named Sue"Another example of a meaningful name was given by the wife of Phinehas when she gave birth. We read in 1 Samuel 4:20 and 21 (BBE), "And when she was very near death the women who were with her said, 'Have no fear, for you have given birth to a son.' But she made no answer and gave no attention to it. And she gave the child the name of Ichabod, saying, 'The glory has gone from Israel': because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband."

If the name above all names hasn't returned by Thursday, I expect to post about a reporter headed for Vietnam back in the seventies.

The Kane Gang, "Respect Yourself"

This might sound wrong to Christians but there is a positive side to respecting yourself. A British group, The Kane Gang, sang about the positive attributes of self respect. Listen to this song from 1984 here.

Having what the Bible calls a good name is crucial for us believers to maintain. As Solomon noted in Proverbs 22:1 (Bible in Basic English),it's a valuable asset.  "A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold."

Even so, it only takes one act of idiocy to ruin one's reputation. Ecclesiastes 10:1 (BBE) shows this in a graphic way. "Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish."

And as Proverbs 14:31 (BBE) reminds us, "He who is hard on the poor puts shame on his Maker; but he who has mercy on those who are in need gives him honour."

We also see where being reliable can help those whom God has chosen to spread the gospel. When the apostles were still in Jerusalem, a quarrel between the Jews and Greeks about widows not being fed erupted. 

Acts 6:3 and 4 (BBE) shows how the apostles settled the food distribution problem. "Take then from among you seven men of good name, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, to whom we may give control of this business. Then we will give all our time to prayer and the teaching of the word."

Additionally, being a person with godly self respect can help in evangelism. Acts 10:19-22 (BBE) shows how this happened to One Apostle. "And, while Peter was turning the vision over in his mind, the Spirit said to him, 'See, three men are looking for you. Go down, then, and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them.' And Peter went down to the men, and said, 'I am the man you are looking for: why have you come?' And they said, 'Cornelius, a captain, an upright and God-fearing man, respected by all the nation of the Jews, had word from God by an angel to send for you to his house, and to give hearing to your words.'"

If Christ doesn't arrive by Thursday, I hope to post about our imperfect world.