How can Proverbs 22:1 enhance our understanding of Ecclesiastes 7:1? Reading the Verses Side by Side Proverbs 22:1 – “A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.” Ecclesiastes 7:1 – “A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death is better than the day of birth.” What Is a “Good Name”? • More than a pleasant nickname; it is the settled testimony of proven character (Proverbs 10:7). • Built on consistent righteousness, truthfulness, mercy, and fear of the Lord (Proverbs 3:3-4; 16:6). • Secures “favor” with both God and people, something money can never buy (Luke 2:52; Acts 2:47). Riches, Perfume, and Reputation: Understanding the Word Pictures Proverbs 22:1 contrasts intangible honor with tangible wealth. • Great riches = visible, measurable, but perishable (Proverbs 23:4-5; Matthew 6:19). • A good name = invisible, immeasurable, yet enduring (Proverbs 10:7). Ecclesiastes 7:1 uses perfume as the tangible comparison. • Fine perfume = pleasant, expensive, but quickly fades (Song of Sol 1:3). • A good name = an aroma that sweetens every room long after the bottle is gone (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). Together the two verses show: 1. Riches and perfume symbolize the best the world can offer. 2. Reputation grounded in godliness outlasts and outweighs both. From Birth to Death—Why the End Matters Ecclesiastes adds the surprising line: “the day of death is better than the day of birth.” Proverbs 22:1 helps explain why. • At birth, a person possesses no tested name; the verdict is unwritten. • By death, the record is complete. If the name is good, it becomes an enduring legacy and testimony to God’s grace (Psalm 112:6; Revelation 14:13). • Therefore, the true value of a life—its “good name”—can only be fully appreciated at the finish, not the start. How Proverbs 22:1 Enhances Ecclesiastes 7:1 • It clarifies what makes the “day of death” better: the lasting worth of a godly reputation, not mere fatalism. • It supplies the standard of evaluation: better than wealth, better than exotic fragrances—character is the yardstick. • It underscores personal responsibility: riches and perfume can be inherited; a good name must be forged through daily obedience (Philippians 2:15). • It shifts our ambition: pursue character above accumulation, knowing death will seal the verdict (Hebrews 9:27). Practical Takeaways • Guard your integrity even in small decisions; every choice writes another line in your name’s story (Luke 16:10). • Invest in relationships, mercy, and truth; these sow the seeds of lasting favor (Proverbs 3:3-4). • View success through eternity’s lens; wealth and image fade, but a righteous name accompanies you beyond the grave (1 Timothy 6:7). • Let the certainty of your last day motivate faithfulness today; a good finish crowns a life well-lived (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Related Scriptures • Psalm 25:21 – “May integrity and uprightness preserve me.” • Romans 2:7 – “To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.” • Proverbs 10:7 – “The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.” |
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