I was sitting with a bunch of leaders one time and the pastor that was leading the meeting led us in an interesting exercise. He asked us what we thought about when we thought about our name. My full name is Christopher Scott Russo. He asked what I thought when I heard it. Do I like it? How does it make me feel? The exercise was honestly quite disarming. It brought up feelings in me that I didn’t expect. I’m working through Proverbs and Proverbs 10:7 says…

The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot.

Whether we realize it or not, my name and your name have connotations attached to them that we probably don’t realize. Not only in our own minds but also in the minds and hearts of those who know us. What words fly around in the minds of those who hear our names? Integrity? Honesty? Anger? Jealousy? Gossip? Loving? Kindness? What kind of power does your name have?

This passage is saying that those who live for God have strong names. Names of character and honor. “The name of the wicked will rot.” What does it mean to be wicked? Each of us have 2 options when it comes to who we live for. We can either live for ourselves or God, but certainly not both. C. S. Lewis said, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” If we end up being the latter of the two, then we are wicked and our names will not endure. If however, we choose to live for God, our name will be used in blessings and we will have lived for a purpose that is much bigger than ourselves.

You see, when you live for God, he uses you to impact the lives of others in incredible ways. He is a great Author and he begins guiding your life to accomplish immeasurably more than what you could ask or think. You begin to find qualities rising in yourself that you never thought possible. It all starts with a decision. God is actively pursuing you and you get to decide if you will respond to him or reject him. We are not victims and we are each responsible for the decisions we make.