"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold....He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor." (Proverbs 22:1 & 9)
Today is my Grandpa Barnette's 126th birthday. "A good name," does not begin to describe him. The word for, "good," can mean "acceptable, tried," Now I know many people do not like such personal references in sermons, devotionals, etc. My Dad had a critic in one congregation who thought my Dad spoke too much about his Dad. But to me, any illustration is always more "relevant" when it comes from your life experience; hence, I also have used many football illustrations over the years. Regardless, Tom Barnette was a living example of both verse texts. He was not "rich" by this world's standards, yet he had, and still has, as we found out a couple of years ago, "a good name," and, "loving favor," in Punxsutawney, PA. There is just no amount of, "great riches," and, "silver and gold," which can buy that. Tom Barnette was a person who gave, "of his bread to the poor," during the Great Depression of the 1930s. At his funeral, I met a man who was one of the recipients of such, "a generous eye."
Today is my Grandpa Barnette's 126th birthday. "A good name," does not begin to describe him. The word for, "good," can mean "acceptable, tried," Now I know many people do not like such personal references in sermons, devotionals, etc. My Dad had a critic in one congregation who thought my Dad spoke too much about his Dad. But to me, any illustration is always more "relevant" when it comes from your life experience; hence, I also have used many football illustrations over the years. Regardless, Tom Barnette was a living example of both verse texts. He was not "rich" by this world's standards, yet he had, and still has, as we found out a couple of years ago, "a good name," and, "loving favor," in Punxsutawney, PA. There is just no amount of, "great riches," and, "silver and gold," which can buy that. Tom Barnette was a person who gave, "of his bread to the poor," during the Great Depression of the 1930s. At his funeral, I met a man who was one of the recipients of such, "a generous eye."
Far too few religious people put great weight on the Book of Proverbs. What Proverbs describes as, "favor," and, "blessed," just doesn't seem very "spiritual." To them, Proverbs falls before misquoted and misunderstood passages such as, "by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." They are those who speak much of worship, prophetic declarations, prayer, yet do not have, "a generous eye," and, "give[] of his bread to the poor." (I wonder how many of the aforementioned tithe?) Just observe what and whom people do put so much, "good name, " and their, "loving favor," upon; most of them are rich politicians, movie stars, professional athletes, and very few of such super heroes know nothing of, "a good name...who has a generous eye," and, "give[] of his bread to the poor." Yet even many church-goers, are enamored with such people whom our Lord Jesus Christ bestows no, "favor," whatsoever. Favor does not manifest in popularity among the masses, nor great wealth, nor in an everything-seems-to-go-right life. The only, "Favor," and, "a good name," any of us should desire is that which is in the smile of our Living Triune God, and, quite frankly, we will never quite know of that, "until that Day."
As I read the Bible, Old and New Testaments, I say that, "A good name," and, "loving favor," come to the person, "who has a generous eye," and, "gives of his bread to the poor." All other explanations are just religiously concocted vanity. I want to look for more and more opportunities to a life of and in our Lord Jesus Christ, "that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."
Father, in Jesus' Name, may this description of You be mine. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
