Proverbs 3:3 – 4

3 Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you];
Bind them [securely] around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. (AMP)

A person’s reputation can have a major impact on their life. By definition, a reputation is the estimation or view of you by others; it is what they believe or consider to be true about you. And people will respond to you based on what they believe about you…good or bad.

Fortunately Proverbs provides guidance on how to have a good reputation. It primarily starts with you… your thoughts, words and actions. When we show mercy and kindness, we impact others. When we are truthful and faithful, we impact others. When these qualities become a regular or normal part of our conduct, we impact others on a regular basis. People will tend to respond to us positively based on our normal conduct.

The Bible even uses figurative language to illustrate how these should be part of our character. When you bind something around your neck, it becomes plain for everyone to see. When they look at your face, they will see what is bound on your neck…it will be obvious and part of your identity.

To make it part of your identity, kindness, mercy and truth should be “written in our hearts”. A picture that comes to mind is that of an old clay tablet. Ancient civilizations used to write stories and document events on wet clay tablets. These tablets were then dried in the air making the writing permanent. Whatever is written in our hearts, will express itself in our thoughts, words and actions. Whatever is in our hearts will dictate our character and thus affect our reputation.

Is your reputation not what you would like it to be? Do people have a low or negative view of you? Maybe you need to see what’s written in your heart. And the person who can change the script of your life is Jesus.