Intentional Reputation – Dr. Hona Amer

Scripture:

“The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon and his connection with the Name of God. She came to put his reputation to the test by asking tough questions. She made a grand and showy entrance into Jerusalem—camels loaded with spices, a huge amount of gold, and precious gems. She came to Solomon and talked about all the things that she cared about, emptying her heart to him. Solomon answered everything she put to him—nothing stumped him. When the queen of Sheba experienced for herself Solomon’s wisdom and saw with her own eyes the palace he had built, the meals that were served, the impressive array of court officials and sharply dressed waiters, the lavish crystal, and the elaborate worship extravagant with Whole-Burnt-Offerings at the steps leading up to The Temple of God, it took her breath away. She said to the king, ‘It’s all true! Your reputation for accomplishment and wisdom that reached all the way to my country is confirmed. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself; they didn’t exaggerate! Such wisdom and elegance—far more than I could ever have imagined. Lucky the men and women who work for you, getting to be around you every day and hear your wise words firsthand! And blessed be God, your God, who took such a liking to you and made you king. Clearly, God’s love for Israel is behind this, making you king to keep a just order and nurture a God-pleasing people’.” 1 Kings 10:1-9 (MSG)

Perspective:

Most people have some sort of reputation. Growing up, there were the “cool” kids, the smart kids, the rebellious kids, and the bullies. We tend to classify people based on their reputation. As you get older, your reputation usually begins to change and revolve more around your character.

Solomon’s wisdom superceded all other kings’ wisdom. He had asked God for wisdom, and God granted him his request far above what he could have imagined. When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she was greatly intrigued by his reputation. Interestingly, Solomon’s reputation wasn’t just about him; his reputation pointed her back to God. His reputation was far reaching because of his wisdom, expertise, and connection with God. But, it was more than a reputation through a grapevine of stories. At this point in his life, Solomon actually lived up to the person that he was known to be. As the New Year approaches, there are many things that we could decide to accomplish. We can get healthy, save money, or spend more time with family, which are all positive decisions. But, one thing that we usually don’t think about is our reputation. More than it being all about us, what do other people know about us, and how is it pointing people back to God? You could be known for being the most loving, supportive, caring person in the world, but if people don’t know why, then they might not have the opportunity to encounter the love of Jesus like you did. So, what are you going to be known for this year? Because, there has never been a better time than today to have your life point people back to Jesus.