Eccl7:1 A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born( NLT).
Dwight L. Moody was an American evangelist and publisher. This particular quote of his struck me: "If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of me".
Your character is what you do often but your reputation is what people know or see about you. If you take care of your character, your reputation will take care of itself.
I was part of a decision making committee sometimes ago, we decided to recommend someone we felt was good enough to handle a critical position.
After we recommended him, the decision to bring him on met with a strong resistance because the fellow has a reputation for immorality and financial recklessness. If he had taken care of his lustful and profligate character, he wouldn't have had a bad reputation with people.
One of my acquaintances attended a church but she left because the pastor made immoral advances at her. Her mum and other family members left as well. Till now, the Pastor has been pastoring an almost empty church.
His reputation for immorality is working against him. Even If he has repented it would take time before he can regain the trust of people. Wise men take care of their character so their reputation can take care of itself.
Don't live a life of 'I don't care what people say or feel about me'. That's absolutely wrong! In life, in as much as you need God to lift you up and make you great, you need the goodwill of men as well. Don't downplay this.
When crucial decisions about you are to be made, you will not be there. That is where your reputation with men will speak for you.
If you have a reputation for integrity, men will commit great things into your hands. If you are given to accountability, it becomes easier for people to entrust valuables into your hands.
If you don't take care of your character, your reputation with men may limit how far you can go in life.
Father, I receive grace to take care of my character In Jesus name. Amen