Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Philippians 4:8 is one of my favorite verses. It is a “go-to” verse that is good for almost anything that ails you. Before you think I am crazy to put so much stock in one verse, hang on. In this verse, Paul is giving us a list of virtues to think about. He tells us this is where our focus should reside. The reason I believe it is such a powerful transforming verse is that everything we do begins with a thought. All our actions and attitudes begin in the mind. When we change our thinking, we change our behavior. Today I want to zero in on a good report. Whatsoever things are of good report, means what would be commendable to have in our lives and to observe in others. It would include what we say, how we present ourselves, and what we do. Another word the bible uses in reference to a good report is blameless.
The Bible commentator Adam Clarke said “The word was a metaphor taken from the world of boxing. Just like a skillful boxer defends every part of his body and gives his opponent no place to hit, so a blameless person gives the outside world no true place to attack his character.”
Philippians 2:15 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”
There are several components that we must have to keep a good report. A blameless person would have a good reputation. One component we must have to be blameless and have a good reputation is the character trait of being kind. We are to look for ways to be kind to others. Kindness treats everyone with fairness and respect. Kindness thinks about the lady with a little child behind them in the store and allows them to go before them to check out. Kindness is shown out of love for our fellow man, not out of a feeling of duty. God gives us several verses in the Bible to give us direction in kindness.
I Corinthians 13:4 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind;”
Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Colossians 3:12 “Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.”
The next component of having a good report, or a good reputation, is honesty. No one should be able with a clear conscience, to call us dishonest. We should not allow anything in our lives that would give them a reason to think we are not being truthful or above board with our actions or words.
II Corinthians 8:21 “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”
We are also to be honest with those who do us wrong.
Romans 12:17 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
We are to be kind and honest with our tongues. Many reputations have been marked because of words said that had not been carefully thought about before they were spoken. When I was growing up, my mother used this phrase often. “If you can’t say something good don’t say anything at all”
James 1:26 “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”
Psalm 5:9 “For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.”
James 3:5 “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
James 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”
It is extremely important what we reveal with our tongue. In the age of social media, many do not think about the image they are giving when they post or repost articles. When we post something, that is our words and it gives people an insight into who we really are. It shows them what we believe by what we talk about, by the posts we repost, or by the people we follow. We need to be careful about posting material from other sources. The words we post may seem good, but the website it came from may have a reputation for being profane. It would be better to say nothing at all than to link ourselves with people or organizations that project wrong thoughts or behavior.
We also need to give a good report with our appearance. What we wear gives an impression of who we are. To keep a good reputation, we need to dress in modest apparel. Our clothing should not draw attention to the sensual areas of our body. Our grooming also is important. Being neat and clean shows respect for those around us. Our appearance is important, and we need to be conscious of how it can affect others.
A person with a good reputation should also be of good character. There is a difference. Our reputation is what others think about us, our character is what God knows about us. Our reputation is based on what people think about us based on their own experiences. It takes a lifetime to build and a moment to lose. Our character can be much better than our reputation because God sees the heart. He forgives and forgets, but people aren’t as enduring. While it is more important that we have good character because that is what God knows, it is vital to have a good reputation also. If we are going to be an influence for Christ and gain a hearing with those who are not Christians, we must live a life that gives a good report. If you have blown it in the past, don’t despair. Move forward with assurance God will use you to further His kingdom. He may allow you to use your past to reach those who have suffered the same sin.
Our effectiveness as Christians greatly depends on what we project to others. More than ever, the world around us finds and exposes the sins and faults of Christians. While they may present things wrongly, we must act in a way as to not be misunderstood, because of the testimony of who we represent, Jesus Christ.
Excellent