Every third year, readings from the Book of Proverbs are the appointed Old Testament readings for these early Sundays in September. And since this only happens every three years, I want to take this opportunity to have us focus on this sometimes-neglected book of the Bible – the Book of Proverbs.
I remember reading a while back that Billy Graham liked to read from the Book of Proverbs every single day. I’m more of a “Psalm each day kind of guy” but if Billy Graham thinks the Book of Proverbs is that important, then maybe we should as well.
Proverbs. Unlike most of the Bible which is written in story or narrative form, proverbs are quick, and to the point. And often times catchy.
I think we live in a Proverbs type of culture, especially we busy Americans. I must admit that this is why the Book of Proverbs appeals to me. I can read a line or two, get the point, and quickly move on.
Have you noticed that stores love to use proverbial sayings as clever ways to sell their merchandise? You can’t put the text of one of Shakespeare’s plays on a t-shirt, but you can fit a short catchy saying on one.
When Penny and I were on vacation this past summer, we were in a store and saw a t-shirt that read, “There are three kinds of people in the world. Those who like math and those who don’t.”
If you didn’t laugh at that joke, find someone who is good at math, and they’ll explain it to you.
Another t-shirt saying. “Always remember you’re unique…just like everyone else.”
How about this? “Taxation with representation isn’t so great either!”
And of course, you have to watch out because these slogans can become tasteless very quickly. And we won’t mention any of those. You get the point.
The main reason we have the Book of Proverbs is because the Hebrew people knew that it was very important for the older generation to share words of wisdom to the next generation. They believed, and rightly so, that great wisdom can be gleaned from people who have been faithful to God over a long period of time.
This is one of the reasons why the Ten Commandments includes “Honor your father and your mother.” And it’s also why the New Testament includes references to the important role of more experienced Christian believers mentoring those who are younger in the faith.
In II Timothy the Apostle Paul writes to the disciple Timothy, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and now, I am sure, lives in you.”
One of the best forms of evangelism is through the biological approach to sharing the faith. Where one generation passes on the faith to the next generation through word and example.
So, what do the elders teach us from the Book of Proverbs this morning? Proverbs 22:1 – “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches and favor is better than silver and gold.”
What do you think of this pearl of wisdom from our elders? “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.”
Before a child is even born, parents are faced with a very important decision. What name will be given their child?
Jesus knew of the importance of choosing the right names. That’s why Simon became known as “Peter” or rock. He called James and John, “the sons of thunder.” Saul became known as Paul.
What is your name? Do you like your name?
My hunch is that most people go through a period of time when they don’t like the name they have been given. But I don’t think that our proverb for today is only thinking about our first names or even our last names. I think it’s referring to our character, our reputation, and even more importantly, how we are reflecting the image of God to the people around us.
It’s interesting that our proverb this morning contrasts having a good name and reputation with people who are only out to gain more riches and wealth. It’s not that this proverb is saying that it’s wrong to be wealthy or that it’s wrong to make money. But it is saying that you just can’t put a price tag on honor and integrity.
Verse 9 of our Proverbs reading is even more specific when it says that “those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor.”
The letter of James from the New Testament shares something very similar to the writer of Proverbs when he writes, “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”
To have a good name means that there is a consistency between our actions and our words. If we say that we’re a Christian where we know all the Bible verses and go to church every Sunday, but then during the week, act selfishly, or look down on others, or become judgmental, or are loud and arrogant, or are cold toward others, then it’s going to be really difficult to have a good name.
I’ve done many funerals over my years of ministry and when I meet with the friends and family to begin planning for the funeral, I’ll ask them to share what they think of the most about their loved one.
Rarely do they say anything about how many bible verses they knew, or how often they attended church, or if they could say the Apostles’ Creed.
But they will say to me the time when that person sacrificed for them, and how that person encouraged them, and helped them out when they were going through a difficult time, and how they were loving, caring, and thoughtful, and how they always sought to always do the right thing and make a positive difference in the world.
Speaking of funerals, maybe you heard the story of the two brothers who lived in a small town, and both had a reputation for their bad behavior. But they were rich enough to avoid the consequences all the time.
The pastor of the local church knew them well and tried to find the good in both of them, although this was next to impossible.
One day, one of the brothers suddenly died.
The other came to the church and asked the pastor to speak at his brother’s funeral. Knowing about his brother’s bad reputation, the pastor replied, “To be honest with you, I wouldn’t know what to say.”
The brother then took out his checkbook. “I’m writing you a check for $10,000 for the church renovations that I heard your church needs. All you have to do is tell everyone at the funeral that my brother was a saint.” The pastor thought for a moment, then accepted the check.
At the funeral, the pastor stood before the townspeople who were there for the service of this very disliked neighbor. “I didn’t know this man well,” the pastor said. “But I do know that he cheated on his wife, and cheated everyone he did business with. But I can say one thing about him: compared to his brother, he was a saint.”
Several years ago, I had an opportunity to speak with Bill McCartney, who was the head football coach at the University of Colorado for about ten years beginning in the early 80s. He led his team to a national championship in 1990. He’s now 84 years old and I saw where a few years back, he was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
During his years as head coach, he was offered a more lucrative contract for one of the top schools in the country. And Coach McCartney was left with a very difficult decision. Should he break his contract and leave the University of Colorado for a lot more money or should he stay and honor his contract.
And the first thing he did was to set up an appointment with his pastor and asked for his advice. And his pastor reminded him about loyalty and integrity and the importance of honoring commitments. Coach McCartney ended up staying at the University of Colorado even though it was for less money.
“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches and favor is better than silver or gold.”
For the past several years, my brother and I would meet in Pittsburgh to go to a Pirates baseball game at PNC Park. My brother has a friend in Pittsburgh and he always has us stay at his house while we’re there.
His name is Patrick and just like his name, he is pure Irish Catholic through and through. His home has all kinds of Irish paraphernalia. Patrick is living evidence that God still works miracles.
Several years ago, Patrick started a food ministry for the poor in Pittsburgh. They serve an average of 8,000 meals to people in need every year. The name of his ministry is “First Food and Friends.” Their mission is to provide good food, dignity and a sense of kinship to all we serve in a friendly, family-style environment.
Patrick does most of the cooking and he loves to get to know the people that are being served. He has helped people find employment and get on their feet financially. More importantly, he lets people know that the reason he is doing this ministry is because of God’s love for all people.
I asked Patrick how he is able to feed so many people on a shoestring budget. And he said that it’s really not that hard because a lot of business owners in Pittsburgh know him by name because of the good works that he is doing in the city.
He said, “I’ve become friends with a lot of businesses in downtown Pittsburgh. They know about my food ministry downtown. I just stop by, give them some of my donuts and pastries and they make a donation.” He said, “There’s a wealthy businessman who is probably going to make a donation of $50,000.”
It’s impossible to spend time with Patrick and not be reminded that God continues to work miracles. God and Patrick make a great team of bringing transformation in the city of Pittsburgh.
“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.”
One of the greatest joys that I get out of being a pastor is when I have the opportunity and privilege to baptize a little baby.
Many times, family from out of town will come and be part of that special occasion. Aunts. Uncles. Cousins. And often, proud new grandparents, and maybe great-grandparents. And right there at the baptismal font, their little grandbaby is baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.
The pastor will ask for the name of the child as part of the baptism ritual. And the parents are careful to include only the first and middle names of the child. The last name of the baby is left out of the ritual. And this is what is so beautiful about the baptism liturgy.
In place of the last name, that child is given a new name, “Christian.” And our hope and prayer is for this little one to hang on to that name for the rest of his or her life. To stay faithful to God when it would be so much easier to just follow the ways of the world and cash it all in.
Our prayer is for this person to stay true to that name. Why? Because as some wise old person said a long time ago, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.”
And that is our proverb for today.
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