A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. ~ Proverbs 22:1

Who doesn’t need more money? I see ads all the time that claim I can make “$5,000 a week from home”. Of course, my parents taught me that if it sounds too good to be true, it is. But if I stop to ponder exactly what $5,000 a week would do to my life, it could be tempting.  Today’s verse puts a halt on thoughts like that, though. Just what would I have to sacrifice to get more money? Time with my family? Then what would they think about their wife and mother? Would I have to spend time with unsavory people? What does that say about me? The list goes on and on. Proverbs 22:1 says plainly that if I can keep a good name, then I have something worth more than gold. I would rather reject money and work on my testimony. After all, I have a lot of work to do!

While growing up, I often heard preachers say that your testimony takes years to build, but can be destroyed in seconds. How true. Since then, I’m sorry to say that I’ve seen it happen over and over. Each time, I am reminded how easily it could be me!

I can’t think of a single time where I’ve actually had to choose between money or my testimony, but if that time ever comes, I hope I will choose to the good name because truly, it is greater than gold.