Posted by By Patrick Enilama [pastorpatrick@sunnewsonline.com on
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold" Prov. 22:1
For those who want to make it big and quick; life on the fast lane is fraught with dangers. A single newspaper report gives you your reputation; but a life of toil gives you your character. While reputation may make you rich or poor; character makes you happy or miserable.
Reputation is what you need to get a job; character is what you need to keep it. The reputation of your referee may help you climb to a big time job but your character will sustain you. Reputation about some one is learned in an hour; but your character does not come to light for a year.
Infact reputation is what you have when you come to a new community; character is what you have when you go away. Those who know you even after you have left kept talking about your character.
Another way of saying it is that reputation is the photograph while character is the picture or face of a photograph.
Brethren reputation is very vital. Joseph had both character and reputation. Pontiphar's wife could not dent it. He kept both reputation and character.Reputation is what you are supposed to be and character is what you are. That is why some people even after they had left an office they are still fondly remembered. Thus a man has three names; the name he inherited; the name his parents gave him and the name he made for himself.
The craze for quick wealth / political power has made many Nigerians to loose reputation. Put political power and material wealth side by side with reputation a good number of Nigerians will go for the former.
In Nigeria may do not care about their reputation. The craze for political power is unlimited. The craze for material prosperity had led many to do the unthinkable. But we know it is better to have a good name rather than to cling unto power.
Mr. Tony Blair, Great Britain Prime Minister for over ten ears told the world on Thursday that is better to stand down from power than to hold on to power at all cost.
A reputation may be repaired, but people always keep their eyes on the place where the crack is for no man is rich enough to buy back his past. In Nigeria many would want to paper over their past - at least - with money. Yet it is never forgotten.
Let us hope that President-elect Yar-Adua administration will place emphasis on integrity and reputation in public policy. If President Obasanjo cannot leave us with a good reputation let us hope the incoming administration will do better.
The best inheritance parents can leave a child is a good name. Believe it or not no man can become suddenly rich. But covenant prosperity is possible. Wealth that is transferable from generation to generation: Abraham was great. Isaac was very great and Jacob was exceedingly great. This is covenant wealth.
We have had Executive Governors: who may soon become executive beggars after EFCC had dealt with them. We have had permanent secretaries who today are permanent baggers.
The late Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa of blessed memory described prosperity "as having it to use when you need it" Riches are not an end of life. Great wealth and contentment seldom live together. To be content with what we possess is the greatest and most secure of riches. The choice is yours.