He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
1 Timothy 3:7 NIV
Your reputation is what other people think or believe about you. Their perception may or may not be accurate. But they believe that it is. And your reputation will affect how they view what you say and do. And, as believers, how they view the Lord we represent.
What kind of a reputation do you have? As a believer in the Lord Jesus, what is your reputation among the unbelievers with whom you come into contact? While Paul’s challenge to maintain a good reputation among outsiders is directed toward those who are church leaders, it is applicable to all of us. Guard a good reputation. Without it, your effectiveness as a servant of the Lord will be severely compromised. And can even become detrimental to the advancement of the kingdom.
Developing a Good Reputation
So, how can you develop and maintain a good reputation? There are two ways that you might try. A common approach is to put on a mask. To pretend to be something you are not. This approach was made by Greek actors who would put on a series of masks during a performance so they could play different parts. From them, we get the word hypocrite. While that was OK for an actor, it is a poor choice for the rest of us.
The other approach to developing a good reputation is to live a godly life. To strive for Christ-likeness in all you do, living a life of love (Gal. 5:14), and exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). People may disagree with your faith in the Lord and even take offense over it. But they should never be able to truthfully accuse us of wrongdoing.
Do not underestimate the importance of a good reputation. Be careful to maintain a good reputation with outsiders. Don’t allow your life to bring the way of truth into disrepute (2 Pet. 2:4). Instead, live such good lives that God will be glorified, even among unbelievers (1 Pet. 2:12).
