What’s In A Name

Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. 3 John 12 NIV

November elections are coming fast; just watch 30 minutes of TV! We have the privilege of voting, but we must endure the endless campaign ads. If it is bad in your state, think about your friends in Alaska. Dan Sullivan endorses Dan Sullivan to beat Dan Sullivan in their Senate race! How does one endorse yourself to run against yourself? It’s all in a name. The sitting senator, Dan S. Sullivan, has been endorsed by former Anchorage mayor Dan A. Sullivan in his run against Dan J. Sullivan. One name, three men, and I thought it was confusing in Georgia. NBC News has reported that “state and federal prosecutors in Alaska were investigating whether the race could be part of a conspiracy to confuse voters.” (Raquel Coronell Uribe, NBC News).

What’s in a name? For those in Alaska, it’s everything. For all of us, it’s everything, even if for different reasons. When a name is mentioned, you immediately form an opinion about that person. You picture all kinds of scenarios when you hear their name. You form your thoughts based on personal interactions, stories from family or friends, historical facts, political commentators, social media, or countless other sources. Think of a person’s name: politician, TV star, local celebrity, or family member; what is your first thought?

None of us has any input into the name we are given at birth, but we have every responsibility for what that name comes to represent. We can tarnish our names through the choices we make, the attitude we display, the friends we keep, or the lifestyle we live. Proverbs remind us that “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” (21:1 NIV).

When you hear the name Mother Teresa, people think of caring, compassionate, and concerned. The name Abraham Lincoln brings to mind conviction, determination, and courage. When you think of Billy Graham, you picture an evangelist, a fiery preacher, and a devoted disciple of Jesus. You picture Queen Elizabeth as refined, dignified, and committed. Each of them made a decision that “a good name is more desirable than great riches.”

The opposite extreme is those who chose power, greed, and riches over a good name. You only have to mention Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Ahab and Jezebel, or Judas Iscariot to begin the list of bad names. Among those names, you will find Mao Zedong. His name is associated with revolutionary change in China, achieved through ruthless power and murder, leaving a legacy of turmoil. Historian Frank Dikötter wrote: “The true dimensions of what happened (in China) are only now coming to light thanks to the meticulous reports the party itself compiled during the famine…What comes out of this massive and detailed dossier is a tale of horror in which Mao emerges as one of the greatest mass murderers in history, responsible for the deaths of at least 45 million people between 1958 and 1962.” (from Unbreakable Courage, Max Lucado).

Unfortunately, an oft-repeated phrase in First and Second Kings was “He did evil in the eyes of the LORD.” It was applied to Israel’s leaders who failed God and the people, leaving a disgraced name. Historians could have used this same phrase thousands of times throughout history for leaders who forgot that “Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all” (Pr. 22:2).

What legacy will your name leave for others? What does your name evoke? Proverbs again reminds us, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man” (Pr. 3:3-4).

The New York Times ran an article in 2019 with the headline, “Is There Anything We Can All Agree On? Yes: Dolly Parton.” On Tuesday, August 25, this bigger-than-life powerhouse singer and entertainer died at age 80. There are very few celebrities most people know and like. Dolly Parton grew up in extreme poverty but left a vast fortune. Her name could have been linked to glamour and wealth, but she never forgot how important it was to care for others. Her love for God was on full display throughout her career. “Every single day, before I do anything, I wake up, and I thank God. I always pray that he’ll let me uplift mankind and glorify him.”

In his weekly post, Jim Denison wrote, “Today we can all agree that her passing Tuesday is a true cultural moment.” Throughout her recording career, she recorded 90 Top 40 country hits, sold more than 160 million records worldwide, and wrote more than 3,000 songs. Dolly was equally known for her generosity, including giving more than 300 million books to children through her Imagination Library.

There is seldom a week when I do not read a story about a pastor, Christian leader, or influential person whose lifetime of work is destroyed by a single bad decision that becomes public, by careless lifestyle choices, or by an inflated ego that elevates self over God. They failed to protect their greatest asset: their name. “A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.” (Ecclesiastes 7:1).

How critical it is to never forget your name. G.K. Chesterton wrote: “Every man has forgotten who he is. One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God; but thou shalt not know thyself. We are all under the same mental calamity; we have all forgotten our names. We have all forgotten what we really are.”

Do we value a good name more than great riches? Criminals know the value of a name, since identity theft occurs every 4.9 seconds in the United States. They may know the monetary value of names but not their true worth. Do we share the same concern for the value of a good name? “The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot.” (Proverbs 10:7).

God is great!

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