Our names are important, and for more reasons than we may realize
By Dean Collins
We spend a lot of time and money on finding the right name. New books come out every year with suggestions for what name parents might consider as they prepare to welcome a new baby into their family. There are websites, published lists, and certainly lots of family opinions about a baby’s name. Our name becomes a significant part of our identity.
Numerous companies exist for the sole purpose of making name tags and badges. How many times have you gone to a conference, an event, a reunion, or even church and someone gave you a printed name tag or asked you to make one? Names are important.
A good name
The wise king said, “A good name is better than precious ointment” (Ecclesiastes 7:1).
But despite all the energy and money we give to choosing and displaying names, I’m pretty sure that is not what this verse is about. Solomon was more focused on the reputation developed and associated with our names than whether Tom is a better name than Bob. Our reputation and our influence can have a pleasant and lasting impact on those around us, just as the scent of an ointment or perfume can freshen a room for a moment.
Take a minute and think about the names of people who have made an imprint on your life. I am confident the people associated with these names were not perfect, but God used them in your life to bless you, to love you, and to guide you. Part of your formation as a person and as a follower of Jesus is directly connected to these very names. You may not have seen these people for decades, yet their name is like a precious ointment in your life. They have made a profound imprint on your life.
I suspect you have noticed that we speak far more about a person who has impacted us when we attend their funeral than we did at their birth. Names are important and the reputation associated with our name will either be tragic or a blessing to many.
The name of Jesus
Church historians such as Josephus tell us there were several people named Jesus during the time Jesus walked the earth. I read an article by Brian Palmer explaining that archeologists have found 71 “Yeshuas” buried in the same timeframe as the death and resurrection of Jesus. But it seems clear no one is talking about or even remembering any of these 71.
In Philippians 2 the apostle Paul calls us to have the same mind as Jesus: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant.”
We do not worship Jesus simply because of his kindness to others. We surrender to Jesus because he paid the price for our sins on the cross, died, was buried, was resurrected, and lives in glory now. He is a risen Savior and Lord. His life in us changes us forever, and the transformation that comes to us through Jesus also brings us a new identity. We are now called sons and daughters, children of the king, saved, light, salt, a royal priesthood, and even friends of God.
Important names
The names we pick for our children are important. We all wear a name for our time on earth, and I suspect we may carry our name into eternity. The reputation and character associated with our names will either draw people to Jesus or potentially alienate them from God.
Maybe our prayer today should be that the life we live today would reflect the love of Jesus in such a way that when someone says our name they are prompted to consider Jesus. He is the name above all names and the one name that is glorified.
Photo by Jon Tyson at Unsplash.com
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