Law 5 So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life

Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.

By Robert Greene and Joost Elffers

When fear is used on this earth it is very powerful. Fearing how others view you is in the sphere of the second level of power on earth, if you have God in the first level. God, if you let him get to the whole you, uses fear on this earth to point us to his good news. He demands that we fear him and give because of our love, fear and respect for Him and what he has done for us.

Our belief in Him conquors our fear of earthly results if we are true to his direction. We trust that what we do is best and fits his long term purpose. Our work, whether understood or not, will build for His kingdom. When we die we go onto something better than our life on earth, so what is there to fear? This by itself puts the above rule 5 on earth in second place.

In first place your setting with God and your reputation to do good work carries each and every day. Intimidation does not exist, you are not vulnerable, you do not care who attacks, and you have no reason to destroy others when you pass out the fruits of the Spirit with everything you do.

Your Good deeds become your reputation in the public and most importantly they heap “coals of fire on the heads” of those working on a power base that is less than the one created by putting God and Jesus first and giving the fruits of the spirit on earth unconditionally. Here is where the real long term power comes from:

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Philippians chapter 2: 1-17
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
Romans chapters 12-14
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Ephesians chapter 6:10-19
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Galatians chapter 5:13-26
14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

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by Tom Wolfgram