A Desirable Reputation

Character is more important than reputation. Character is what God knows you really are while reputation is what others think of you. Who questions the desirability of both a good character and a good reputation?

Most often a good reputation reflects a good character. Character comes first although some may get away with pretense and hypocrisy, enjoy a good reputation without a good character.

In Third John we read of three men; Gaius, Diotrophes and Demetrius. Gaius was a good man and Diotrophes was despicable. The third man, Demetrius, had a "good report of all men and of the truth itself." John acknowledged the accuracy of this report.

We should strive to imitate Demetrius. We begin to develop a good reputation by developing a good character..