Good Name, Good Character (Proverbs 22:1)

As I guide my daughter through the arduous process of preparing for college, I am struck with an apparent glaring contradiction. So much of our activities as parents and students are focused upon getting good grades, good national test scores, getting enough volunteer activities, and amassing a well rounded portfolio of extracurricular activities. All of this is to facilitate the application process to get into a good college which may lay the groundwork for possible graduate school and a future job. These activities are important but what I realized is that although all of this preparation may help my child get a great first job, once they enter that door, very little of this matters. An employer is concerned about whether this person plays well in the sandbox. Does this person get along with everyone in my company and my customers? If a person is brilliant but has poor interpersonal skills, very few, if any, employers would declare, “Well, this person is a jerk, but he/she went to Harvard (or other prestigious school), so therefore I will overlook it.” I don’t think so.

It is all about character. Character is developed through many channels. Studying hones our discipline and responsibility.  Citizenship classes define and model the qualities of honor and respect. Coaches inculcate the importance of good sportsmanship. All of these activities are important but only dance around the salient issue.

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

Proverbs 22:1 (ESV)

A good name, a good character, should always be our goal, for ourselves and for our children. Our character reveals our core nature by unveiling our true motives. If we have a bad character, we cannot hide behind our grades and test scores; we cannot hide behind our awards or diplomas; we cannot hide behind titles or bank accounts. Our silver and gold will not buy us a good character. A bad character will always fail us.

How do we achieve good character? Good character always begins with God. Our tutor, our example, is our Lord Jesus Christ. As a parent, I need to model Jesus Christ, the perfect example of good character. As a child, they need to do their best with the abilities that God has blessed them with and leave the outcome to Him. AP classes, SAT exams, college applications-it is all part of the process of character development. The goal is to strive for a good name, a good character, in the name of Jesus.  And this is achieved by trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

There are many obligations that are placed upon our children. The world clamors for good grades, good schools, and great riches. But God places His highest favor upon those who first seek a good name for His sake.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.