Most of the people I used to visit I had not met before. I remember going to an office once and as I introduced myself the man I was meeting said, "Hi ... I heard a lot about you; your reputation precedes you!"
He never explained whether it was a good or a bad reputation. What did people think of me, I wonder?
How about you? What is your reputation amongst family and friends?
Are you always the life and soul of the party? Do people gather around you to hear your witty stories and jokes?
Or are you the grumpy one that people avoid or tolerate politely?
If we're honest, we all have a reputation; even though we might not know what others think of us.
How much should we be aware of our reputation? And if in any way negative, how much should we try to change to become more likeable? Should we change despite our principles on a particular subject or topic? What is the right balance between compromise to be liked and standing up for our principles and beliefs?
Life has become a popularity contest these days. Everyone wants to be popular it seems. You can see it on TV where everyone is a celebrity despite their lack of talents or personality. Just because they've appeared on a reality show; they are suddenly a celebrity, a personality, someone to look up to.
It's the same on social media, where everyone is posting photos and articles about themselves to impress perfect strangers who, for some reason, "follow" them and "like" what they say.
I've heard it said that some people post photos of luxury houses, and cars etc ... and pretend that it is theirs just to impress and encourage perfect strangers to "follow" their posts.
Now here's a thought: What is your reputation in the eyes of God?
What does He think of you? Is it a good reputation that would want Him to "like" you? Or is it such that would embarrass Jesus and make Him ashamed of you?
But whoever denies and disowns Me before men, I also will deny and disown him before My Father Who is in Heaven. Matthew 10:33
...your reputation is important. I was given my father name and over all of these years, I've tried not to mess it up!
ReplyDeleteYes, reputation is important. God bless, Tom.
DeleteI really like this one and so true. It's hard not to want to be liked, but God always has to come first. I try!
ReplyDeleteIt is our reputation as seen by God that really matters.
DeleteGod bless, Sandie.
Wise question.
ReplyDeleteThanx Sandi. God bless.
DeleteGreat question! Up until the last several years, I was always overly concerned what other people thought about me. Now, it only matters what God thinks.
ReplyDeletePS - Did you ask that person at the regional office what he meant?
No Mevely; I did not want to give him the satisfaction of asking him what he meant about my reputation. I just sat and started the business interview. That way, I gave the impression that I did not care about my reputation. He did not explain either.
DeleteOn another occasion, another manager whom I had not met before started the meeting with, "Moubarak? Where did you get that name from?"
I replied, "From my parents, where did you get yours from?"
The meeting was difficult from then on (for him) as I kept asking questions about the running of his office and his department.
God bless.
“What other people think of me is none of my business.” ❤️
ReplyDeleteHmmm ... I dare not say that to my wife!
DeleteGod bless, CM.
thecontemplativecat here. Reputations? I like to think that people view me a kind, a good listener, and God's Child.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, we are all God's children.
DeleteGod bless, Susan.
Greetings Victor: I am not concerned about what people think of me, I am more concerned what God thinks of me, I hope I am considered a generous person with my time and talents, I want to see only the best in people, and I hope they feel the same about me. In this day and age there is so much competition in life, some thrive on it others never give it any mind. When I am gone from earth I hope people are kind and say kind words about me, I like to say only good things about the people that went before me.
ReplyDeleteCatherine
"I am more concerned what God thinks of me,"
DeleteBrilliantly said, Catherine. That is the right attitude to have.
God bless you always, my friend.
In the end it only matters what God thinks of us.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping He'll say, Well, done my good and faithful servant.
Excellent (and a little unsettling, too) thoughts here, Victor. I do wonder from time to time what people think of me, but I try to change to something else and in the mean time, just do the best I can to do better.
ReplyDeleteI try to do my best with everyone including God and if it's not enough then so be it. That's all I can do.
ReplyDeleteIt's not my business to know what other people think of me, it's my business to do what The Good Lord wants me to do, love Him, love people.
ReplyDelete