Genealogies! As we open 1 Chronicles this morning, we are greeted with names, nations, and notoriety! Ahead of us are nine chapters of names and nations, taking us back to the beginning with Adam. Unless you enjoy tracing family trees, this may seem boring. As I read through all these names this morning, the idea of notoriety stood out to me.
The reading mentions three men, Nimrod, Er, and Achan. These men are notorious for their wickedness. Nimrod was a man of rebellion before the Lord. Er was so wicked that God killed him. And then there is Achan, the man who stole the spoils that belonged to God and brought disaster upon Israel. Can you imagine having your name in the eternal record with one of these reputations? This reminded me of the following verses.
Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. (Proverbs 22:1, NLT)
A good name is better than precious ointment… (Ecclesiastes 7:1, KJV)
The Bible says to choose a good reputation. As we see with Achan, his reputation was based on a choice. Achan decided to steal the spoil set apart for the Lord, which brought trouble upon Israel and his family.
Choosing a good reputation is not as simple as going online, adding it to your cart, and waiting for it to show up at your door in a few days. A good reputation is earned, and anything earned requires time. Proverbs 3:1-4 spells out how to earn a good reputation. In the ESV, the word success in verse four is translated as reputation in the NLT.
Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. (Proverbs 3:4, NLT)
In other words, as we live according to God’s commandments, we will earn the favor and success of a good reputation over time. Now, let’s ask this question. How long does it take to earn a bad reputation? That can happen in a moment, even staining a lifetime’s good reputation.
In other words, what we are looking at here is legacy. Legacy affects our family tree and our genealogy for better or worse. Let us be careful as we live, choosing the legacy of a good name and favor, one decision at a time. It is better than great riches!
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from 1 Chronicles 1-2:55.