A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together;
the LORD is the Maker of them all.
In Othello by Shakespeare, Iago has a similar take on a good name. His purse is trash compared to his good name. These two proverbs could be seen as separate and oftentimes, they are meant to be separate truisms but here we see two that go together like chocolate and peanut butter when it comes to being God’s people. Specifically in the church, the reputation should be good. People should say of the church that it has a good name. It worships God and preaches truth. It helps the poor and homeless and evangelizes the world. Likewise, there is rich and poor meeting together. In the first century, centuries after the Proverbs were written, the church was comprised of men and women, slave and free, Jew and Gentile, all worshiping together under the banner of truth in the Bible.
There is a question churches should ask themselves. If your church closed, would anyone notice? What do people say about your church? There are many churches that could disappear off the face of the earth and it would be unknown to almost everyone outside the church. There are many churches that people would say good riddance because they were indifferent and ineffective in the community.
May we strive to represent Jesus Christ well and to be faithful and obedient to his commands. May we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and might as the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4 commands. May we teach the Bible to all. May we share the gospel of Jesus Christ. May they know…
Our doors are open.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church