“Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right” (Proverbs 20:11).
The initial work on your reputation begins in your youth. Even a child can and will quickly create a good or bad reputation for himself.
Several years ago when I was teaching fifth grade in a public school, a situation arose from varying and conflicting accounts about something that had occurred on the recess playground. One student said this; another said that. Without God’s omniscience, I knew I was in over my head.
At some point, I asked a student named Garrett about the incident. He reported what he saw. I turned from him to ask another student for her perspective, but before I could get my question out, a couple of students interrupted me and said: “Garrett doesn’t lie. Whatever he told you happened is what happened.”
Though Garrett had not even reached puberty yet, he was known by his school peers of several years as always being truthful, never lying. That day I witnessed the truth of Proverbs 20:11.
Though your character is more important than your reputation, how blessed it is to have a good reputation because you have a good character.
