Quite a number of my friends wear fragrances. But before long, the fragrance wears off and they have to spray on more to continue to smell good!
What happens between two important dates in a person’s life determines whether his name will be an alluring fragrance or a repulsive stench. The dates are your birth, when your parents named you, and your death, when your name will appear on a death certificate. This is well illustrated by two people in the New Testament.
Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with an expensive perfume (Mark 14:3). Its fragrance filled the house. Jesus said that her name would be honored (Mark 14:9)—and it is. Judas, however, betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins (Matthew 26:14-15). At birth, he was given a good name “Judah,” which means “praise.” But by the time Judas died he had turned that beautiful name into something despicable and despised (John 18:5).
“A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). That’s why Solomon reminded us to “choose a good reputation over great riches” (Proverbs 22:1). He wasn’t telling us to stop using perfume. Instead, in asking us to “[think] a lot about death” (Ecclesiastes 7:4), he called us to move from a life of artificiality to authenticity, from hypocrisy to integrity. By our attitudes and actions, we create the memories that will be associated with our names in life . . . and in death.
Solomon encouraged us to leave behind a legacy that’s authentic, positive, unforgettable, and lingering. As Proverbs 10:7 says, “We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away.” Yes, perfume fades, but the aroma of our lives lingers on.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 14:1-28
More:
What does Paul say about the fragrance that we’re to spread to those around us? (2 Corinthians 2:14-17).
Next:
As a Christian, one bears the name of Christ (1 Peter 4:14-16). How are you striving to live in a way that honors His name? What should you change to make sure you possess a good name?
gary1schelvan on October 29, 2014 at 2:27 am
Ni hao K.T. Sim,
Ni hao is hello in Chinese which is I am joining you from, Tianjin, China. I liked your posting with it’s analogy of the sweet fragrance of fine perfume, being similar to what we want our lives to be, not only during our time alive here on earth, but also how we are remembered after we have come to our death. I was reading in Leviticus 1:9 about the burnt offering being a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Jesus life on earth and His sacrifice was also a pleasing fragrant offering to the Lord, Yahweh. Your ending was perfect about Solomon’s encouragement to have our legacy be authentic, positive, unforgettable, and lingering like the sweet fragrance of a fine perfume. Thanks so much
Winn Collier on November 1, 2014 at 11:09 am
I think it’s interesting how Jesus honored the moment when he was anointed with perfume, how that ordinary (and very physical) moment pointed to a deep truth.