What’s in a name? My wife and I confronted this ancient
question when our children were born. Do
we name them after relatives? Do we pick names from the Bible? Do we name them
after persons we admire? Do we look for interesting names we haven’t heard before?
Dare we leave it to chance and just peer into their newborn faces to see what
names might fit?
Though most take pains to choose just the right name for their
children, names are really a shot in the dark. We might be named after someone
we will never, ever resemble in either looks or deeds. Or that interesting name
we were given suddenly becomes the next trendy name and forty percent of our classmates
bear the same handle. Our names are no guarantee of anything really—and perhaps
lend little influence to our course in life.
Next to one’s name, however, people are often “known” by
their vocations, associations, and reputations (pardon the rap). Certainly what
we do says something about us; perhaps more revealing is the company we keep—
whether it is other people, or organizations with which we choose to lend ourselves.
Reputations are derived from a variety of factors, but like our associations
they reveal our character—who we are.
How wonderful to have a good reputation. How outstanding to be the poster child
for a particular virtue; to be the next “Honest Abe,” for instance.
In the second book of the Chronicles, there, among a list of
generals, is a particularly amazing and unexpected statement that leaps off the
page. The writer was prompted by the Holy Spirit to lend a particular
descriptor to one of the commanders under King Jehoshaphat of Judah.
This was the muster of
them by fathers' houses: Of Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the
commander, with 300,000 mighty men of valor; and next to him Jehohanan the
commander, with 280,000; and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the LORD, with 200,000 mighty men of valor. Of
Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, with 200,000 men armed with bow and
shield; and next to him Jehozabad with 180,000 armed for war. These were in the
service of the king, besides those whom the king had placed in the fortified
cities throughout all Judah. 2 Chronicles 17:14-19 ESV
How wonderful when a name and vocation are so easily
forgotten because they are placed beside a reputation that outshines them both!
And what a wonderful reputation to have! Notice his contemporaries were
described as “commander,” or” mighty man of valor,” but Amasiah is remembered
because he performed his role as a volunteer for the Lord. Amasiah didn’t work for money, and he didn’t work for the king; rather he voluntarily
gave his service to the Lord! He was at the Lord’s command, and he did so
without worrying about remuneration.
Little is known about Amasiah beyond this reference. Finances
are a small part of this consideration, however. Most of us find that our time
is extremely valuable. We may also value our health. Most of us certainly value
our comfort. Amasiah, who may have valued these same things, nonetheless, freely
chose the to place himself at God’s disposal. Reading in the white spaces, one
might surmise that Amasiah was ever
·
Thankful—for what God had done and was doing in
his life;
·
Listening— to hear what God wanted him to do;
·
Flexible—to adjust his plans to accommodate God’s
plans;
·
Generous—to freely give up his time and
resources;
·
Content—to let God control his future;
·
Compassionate—to care about needs other than his
own;
·
Obedient—to do and not merely to think about God’s
will.
Perhaps part of the secret is in his name: Amasiah means “Jehovah
bears.” The notion that “God bears or carries” means (foremost) that we don’t bear or carry. God is in charge! God is all powerful! God
has the answers! God can perform
miracles! God knows best! God cares for and bears the burdens of
the volunteer! . . . See the shift in perspective? When one is convinced of
these things, there comes a freedom to lay aside all efforts to preserve and
advance oneself. . . . Suddenly one is
free to serve (and worship).
How do we get there? How do we get to the point where we see more of God and less of ourselves? How do we get to the point where we let go of our own agendas and gladly choose God's? I'm convinced it comes naturally as we grow in gratitude.
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!” Psalm 50:23 ESV
So the sixty-four dollar question is “What will we be known
for?”
