A good name is more desirable than great riches.

King Solomon

A number of years ago, a young woman by the name of Nellie was hired as a domestic servant for a well to do family. Prior to Nellie’s first day on the job, her new employer contacted the woman for whom Nellie had worked previously. She found that Nellie had been a good cook and was good with children, but was somewhat sloppy in appearance and was not always thorough in cleaning the house.

Nellie’s new boss called her in and told her what she had learned from the old employer. She added, however, that she didn’t believe it when she said Nellie was sloppy and a poor housekeeper. She told Nellie that it was clear by her neat appearance that she was not sloppy and, furthermore, she was quite confident that Nellie would prove to keep a very tidy house.

And Nellie did!

The truth was that Nellie had been sloppy in both appearance and housekeeping for her old employer, but was the exact opposite for the new one… but why? The reason was that Nellie had now been given a good name to live up to and she was going to do everything she could to live up to that good name.

When you think about it, we have a lot in common with Nellie. Prior to becoming Christians, we had some pretty sloppy habits which we were not too proud of. But now our circumstances are quite different. When we became Christians we were literally given a good name and, like Nellie, we need to do everything in our power to live up to that good name that we are now so privileged to wear.

You were taught, with regard to your former life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 

Ephesians 4:22-24, NIV