There are two basic verbs having the ability to define a person, namely, the verb to have and to be. Therefore we say things like: “He has long hair, or a lot of money, or a sense of humor, or little patience”, or perhaps, “she is tall, or nice, or silly, or smart”. Such verbal expressions are so commonly used that we have nearly forgotten that their absence would entail a huge breakdown in the sphere of communications.
Torn between the two
In the realm of morals or virtue these two verbs—or rather what they represent— have the power to bring us, at times at least, to a place of personal conflict. And the conflict is engendered by a tension between having and being. It is so because every so often we can only have at the cost of being, or we can only be at the cost of having. Let me explain.
On occasion, if we want to have something, we will have to compromise in the realm of virtue or moral beauty, i.e., we will have to become less righteous, or less attractive, or less honest, and the list goes on and on. From a Christian perspective it means we will be stepping away from who Jesus is to have what he didn’t have. Putting it briefly, we will become less like Him.
The opposite is also true. On occasion, if we want to be more like Jesus in the realm of being, we might have to let go certain things that are in our power to get, or give away some of the things we have already gotten at the expense of our reputation. What we choose will reveal both: what we value the most and what we are, or more so, what we are becoming. For what profit is it to a man if he wins the argument and loses his temper on the process, or gets a seat and loses his face? There lays the real question.
Words of wisdom
“A good name is to be more desired than great riches, to be esteemed is better than silver and gold” (Prov. 22:1 NIV). Thus says Solomon in his God-given wisdom. I like the way the New Century Version translates the second part of the verse: “To be well thought is better than silver and gold.” Yes brethren! What has to do with your being is to be more desired than what has to do with your having. Blessed is the man who understands the difference between the two and chooses the Higher Life.
In Ecclesiastes 7:1 Solomon repeats the same thing: “A good name is better than fine perfume” (NIV).
When people hear your name do they think about something beautiful or something ugly? Does your name evoke pleasantness or disagreeableness, politeness or rudeness, graciousness or surliness? Do people love you for who you are or for what you have? One thing is certain: Jesus is coming back for a bride whose name is like perfume poured forth (Song of Solomon 1:3).
Jesus our example
When most of us think about Jesus his very Name reflects beauty and holiness, because the Son of man didn’t focus on having but rather on being. He knew how to let go when He had the power to keep something, and this in view to become the person He had the power to be.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:5–11).
Jesus gave up His place in the realm of having and obtained the highest name in the realm of being. Read these words carefully:
In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17:31–33).
According to Jesus, to save our life in the realm of having will cause us to lose it in the realm of being. The day will come in which we will have to choose between the “goods that are in the house” and the person we have the power to become.
Wrong choices
The Scripture tells us about people losing their life in the realm of being. We have the example of Esau who for a stew of lentils lost his name (Gen. 25:29–34). And what about Absalom, the son of King David? His name echoes ugliness, selfishness and pride—all this because he wanted the kingdom (2 Sam. 15:10–14). Then we have Joab who wanted to have his revenge. So he killed Abner in time of peace and was cursed by David. To have what he desired cost him his reputation and eventually his life (2 Sam. 3:26–29, 1 Kings 2:5,6). And what about Lot? Who for having what he considered the best lost his name (Gen. 13:10–13). And the time fails me to talk about Balaam, Gehazi, Judas, and many others.
Brethren, “A good name is to be more desired than great riches, to be esteemed is better than silver and gold” (Prov. 22:1 NIV). May God help us to reach out for that which has eternal value, for surely “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).
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