THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Proverbs: Topical Applications of Proverbs

III. The Proverbs Themselves, Proverbs 10:1-31:31

F. Securing A Good Reputation

Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

Acquiring and keeping a good reputation can be a hard thing to do. The evidence abounds:

(1) On the national political scene, James Talarico, a Texas candidate for the U. S. Senate, several years ago while running for the Texas state legislature “decided to go vegan in order to promote animal welfare and fight climate change . . . (But now he) insists that his current senate campaign practically runs on Texas barbecue. It’s out with the tofu and in with the brisket . . . (T)his raises the question: Which is better – a candidate who has sincerely held woke views, or a candidate who adopted an outlandish worldview a few years ago because he thought it was fashionable, and is now jettisoning that worldview because it is no longer convenient? Neither speaks well of James Talarico.” (Rich Lowry, Republican-American, June 3, 2026, p. A7)

(2) The realm of business is affected by challenges to one’s reputation: “Gov. Ned Lamont . . . has . . . taken aim at the eight-figure pay of Eversource’s chief executive officer . . . (claiming,) ‘(T)he CEO of Eversource’s $13.5 million compensation last year reflected a 19% raise. The CEO is making 94 times what the average Eversource employee earns. In 1960, the CEO to average employee pay ratio was 20:1 . . . And we’re asking people to subsidize the company even more?’” (Paul Schott, “State CEOs come under scrutiny,” Republican-American, June 8, 2026, p. A1) Paul Shott’s report explained, “The furor illustrates that while large companies’ shareholders generally express few objections to CEO’s earnings, corporate giants should expect more skepticism from elected officials and the general public about the huge income gaps between top executives and rank-and-file workers.” (Ibid.)

(3) The legacy media has reputation issues, too: Scott Pelley’s firing from “60 Minutes” by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss was marked by comments on several reputations. A letter by Mark Godburn of Norfolk in the Republican American added his politically conservative view that “(m)any ‘60 Minutes’ staffers, just as liberal and arrogantly entitled as Pelley, applauded as he publicly tore into Weiss and Bilton. Weiss and Bilton very properly stood up to Pelley’s abuse and fired him . . . The long-running show is full of entitled liberal activists and media celebrities masquerading as neutral journalists” (op. cit., June 9, 2026, p. A6). Yet, Mr. Godburn added, “Pelley claims that Weiss ‘brings an ideology into CBS News . . . that . . . is a thumb on the scale for one political party over another.’”

(4) Even the best of coaches in the realm of sports can find it difficult to keep up a good reputation: Geno Auriemma, coach of UCONN’s women’s basketball team with a hall of fame win-loss coaching record “two months ago at the Final Four in Phoenix . . . was all worked up into a fit of anger. His team’s perfect season went up in smoke with a national semifinal loss to South Carolina and he stepped into a national conversation about his behavior for the way he stepped toward Dawn Staley,” the South Carolina coach, “in the post-game handshake line.” (Mike Anthony, “Auriemma tanned, relaxed after season that got away,” op. cit., June 6, 2026, p. B1)

Need: So we ask, “What advice would God have on obtaining and securing a good reputation?”

I. God’s “wisdom,” His hokmah, or fixed eternal moral order for success and blessing, applies to many issues of human need including the need to secure a good reputation.

II. We thus view proverbs translated from the Hebrew Biblical text (Kittel, Biblia Hebraica) in the Book of Proverbs on avoiding a bad reputation and securing a good one (as follows):

A. A good reputation is very valuable, for Proverbs 22:1 asserts, “A good name is to be preferred above great riches; favor is more wholesome than silver or gold.”

B. Negatively, to avoid a bad reputation, one must avoid certain behaviors (as follows):

1. To avoid a bad reputation, one must avoid committing sin:

a. Proverbs 18:3 states, “When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with disgrace (comes) scorn.”

b. Then, Proverbs 10:7b claims that “the name (that represents one’s reputation) of the wicked will rot.”

2. To avoid a bad reputation, one must avoid being quick-tempered: Proverbs 20:3 states, “It is honor to a man to cease from strife (arguing), but every fool bursts out (in arguing) in contention.”

3. To avoid a bad reputation, one must avoid working deceptively to oppose other people: Proverbs 14:17b claims that “a crafty (scheming) man is hated.”

4. To avoid a bad reputation, one must avoid being ruthless toward others: Proverbs 11:16 states, “A woman of kindness gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.”

5. To avoid a bad reputation, one must avoid being perverted in his thinking: Proverbs 12:8 claims, “A nobleman is praised according to his insight, but men of perverted minds are despised.”

6. To avoid a bad reputation, one must avoid being treacherous:

a. Proverbs 13:15 claims, “Good sense, understanding wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is hard.”

b. Also, Proverbs 24:8-9 states, “He who plots evil will be known as a schemer. The (such) schemes of folly are sin (and lead to mockery), and men detest a mocker.” (Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 958)

7. To avoid a bad reputation, one must avoid the sin of pride:

a. Proverbs 18:12 asserts, “Before his downfall the heart of man is proud, but humility comes before honor.”

b. “It is not good to eat too much honey, and neither is it honorable to seek one’s own honor,” Prov. 25:27.

c. Proverbs 29:23 states, “A man’s pride brings him low but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.”

8. To avoid a bad reputation, one must avoid being in a hurry publicly to criticize other people:

a. Proverbs 25:8 claims, “What you have seen with your eyes do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?”

b. Also, Proverbs 25:9-10 teach, “If you argue your case with a neighbor, do not betray another man’s confidence, or he who hears it may shame you and you will never lose your bad reputation.” (“It is risky business to accuse others publicly in court,” Ibid., p. 960)

C. Positively, to secure a good reputation, one must perform certain behaviors:

1. To secure a good reputation, one must cease arguing with others: Proverbs 20:3 states, “It is honor to a man to cease from strife, but every fool will break out (in quarreling).”

2. To secure a good reputation, one must be righteous: Proverbs 10:7a states, “The memory of the righteous will be a blessing . . .”

3. To secure a good reputation, one must be kind: “A woman of kindness gains respect . . .” (Prov. 11:16a)

4. To secure a good reputation, one must acquire insight: “A nobleman is praised according to his insight . . . (Proverbs 12:8a)

5. To secure a good reputation, one must acquire good sense, prudence: Proverbs 13:15a claims, “Good understanding, prudence, sense (sekel, B. D. B., A Heb. and Eng. Lex. of the O. T., p. 968) wins favor . . .”

6. To secure a good reputation, one must be humble:

a. “It is better to be lightly esteemed and have a servant than to pretend to honor oneself but have no food,” Proverbs 12:9.

b. “ . . . (H)umility comes before honor,” Proverbs 18:12b.

c. “ . . . (A) man of lowly spirit gains honor,” Proverbs 29:23b.

Lesson: To avoid a bad reputation, one must not sin, not be quick-tempered, not work deceitfully, not be ruthless, not be perverted in thinking, not be treacherous, not be proud and not be quick to criticize. To secure a good reputation, one must cease arguing, be righteous, be kind, acquire insight and good sense and be humble.

Application: (1) May we trust in Christ Who died as our Atoning Sacrifice for sin that we might receive God's gift of eternal life, John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. (2) May we heed the Book of Proverbs on avoiding a bad reputation and securing a good reputation by relying on the Holy Spirit for behavior control. (Galatians 5:16)

Conclusion: (To illustrate the message and/or provide additional guidance . . .)

We apply specific appropriate proverbs in our sermon to the issues of concern in our introduction (as follows):

(1) On U. S. senatorial candidate James Talarico’s political switch from claiming to be a vegan a few years ago to boosting Texas barbecues today, Proverbs 14:17b warns against scheming such switches that hurt a reputation!

(2) On Gov. Lamont’s critique of the high pay of Eversource’s CEO, Proverbs 11:16 calls for kindness and not ruthlessness to have a good reputation. For a good reputation, companies, CEOs [and also elected officials we might add] should not extract undue money from consumers [or taxpayers] in consideration of the public that pays the bill!

(3) On Bari Weiss’ firing of former “60 Minutes” CBS correspondent Scott Pelley and the conflict that then followed, less pride and more humility as Proverbs 12:9, 18:12 and 29:23 teach would ease the situation all around!

(4) On UCONN coach Geno Auriemma’s outburst at South Carolina’s coach Dawn Staley in the post-game handshake when UCONN was upset by South Carolina, the solution is the Proverbs 20:3 call to cease arguing!

May we trust in Christ Who died as our Atoning Sacrifice for sin that we might receive God’s gift of eternal life. May we heed the teaching of the Book of Proverbs on avoiding a bad reputation and securing a good one by relying on the indwelling Holy Spirit for behavior control.