A Spiritual Responsibility for Your Reputation
Scriptures: Psalms 119, 1 Timothy 4, Psalms 51, Proverbs 19, Psalms 1, Luke 12
Your Reputation Matters Spiritually
Psalms 119 and 1 Timothy 4 make something very clear:
You have a spiritual responsibility for your reputation.
Not a reputation built on popularity.
Not a reputation shaped by opinions.
But a reputation grounded in obedience, consistency, and truth.
People may judge you unfairly—but God judges accurately.
And the life you live should reflect the God you serve.
Anger, Apologies, and Accountability
Psalms 51 presses us to look inward:
Are you mad about things God doesn’t want you to be upset about?
Anger is often a warning sign—not of injustice, but of misalignment.
And here is a sobering truth:
Saying “I’m sorry” does not absolve you of the problem.
Words without change are empty.
That’s why bringing unresolved issues to church is not good.
Worship cannot cover rebellion.
Praise cannot replace repentance.
And let’s be clear—
Confessing to a dead person is not useful.
Healing comes from truth, humility, and obedience before the living God.
Growth Is the Evidence of Change
Proverbs 19 asks a necessary question:
How has God changed you? How have you become better?
Spiritual maturity is visible.
It shows up in restraint.
It shows up in wisdom.
It shows up when you become victorious over your anger and foolishness.
Don’t let the devil prompt you to irrationality.
Emotional reactions often lead to spiritual regret.
Before making sudden, major, or even small decisions, maybe the question you should ask is simply:
“Should I?”
Who You Listen To Matters
Psalms 1 warns us clearly:
Be careful about taking advice from people who do NOT value God.
Counsel shapes direction.
Influence shapes outcomes.
Listening to the wrong voices can slowly pull you away from truth—without you even realizing it.
Rich in Life, Poor in Spirit?
Luke 12 challenges us deeply:
Are you rich in life but spiritually bankrupt?
Success without God is still loss.
Comfort without Christ is still empty.
But when something real happens inside you—when God truly changes your heart—
when you have the joy of the Lord in your heart, you will want others to know about it.
Joy overflows.
Faith speaks.
Life changes.
Challenge
Take responsibility for your spiritual reputation.
Identify anger that God never asked you to carry.
Replace apologies with repentance and action.
Resolve issues before coming to worship.
Ask “Should I?” before reacting or deciding.
Seek counsel from people who value God.
Measure success by spiritual richness, not worldly gain.