It’s Guest Post Monday!!! This post is from Brandon who is passionate about worship and leadership. Make sure to check out his blog Big B. If you would like to be featured on a Guest Post Monday please email me at danblackonleadership@gmail.com
According to the dictionary, we get the following definitions:
Reputation: overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general
Character: the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual
In a post on my site, An Individual With Character Must Have Morals, we discussed how good morals must be present in order to have good character. If you take a look at the definitions above, you will notice that reputation is simply what others think of you. It is important for others to think highly of you, but if it is not the truth, then it is a huge problem! Character, in contrast to reputation, is the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. Character is what someone is actually about!
“Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
-John Wooden
Although my reputation means a lot to me, I would rather possess Godly character over all of it. Even though it is important to set a great example, it is more important what God thinks of you…rather than what others think of you. As Christ followers, we are supposed to set the example. But if it is artificial, that is completely wrong. Unfortunately, this happens a lot, and it causes others to question our faith. That is why many individuals are hesitant to attend church or to go to other Christian-based events.
Obviously, it is important to have a great reputation and Godly character. As followers of Jesus Christ, these should line up the same in our life.
Our whole purpose on this earth is to bring glory to God and His kingdom. We are to “Amplify God’s Kingdom!“. In order to do this, we must set the example (reputation) and live it out (character).
Question: What do you think about reputation and character?
