Reputation

“The hearts of the people are fickle;” (Hosea 10:2 NLT)

When we meet a new person, we size them up--we determine their worth based on external appearances. Are they acceptably attired? Do they have respectable credentials? Are they displaying proper behavior? Most importantly, do they make us feel good about ourselves?  

It is natural to make quick, initial assessments about people. Unfortunately, many of us never go beyond these rudimentary presumptions. We judge the value of individuals and relationships based on societal correctness instead of on authenticity. We are impressed by pretentious behavior, fake nobility, and insincere displays of affection. We put more stock in superficial appearances than in sincerity. We care more about what others think of us than we do about who we truly are. In time, we lose our ability to recognize what is genuine. We unwittingly become participants in the counterfeit economy, peddling hypocrisy, buying and selling meaningless trappings of superiority.  And, since most of the world operates by this shallow value system, we pay more attention to protecting our reputation than to developing our character.  

Continued in next post…