Sirach 41:1-16: a reflection

1O death, how bitter is the memory of you to a man who is at peace in his possessions, to the man who has nothing to distract him and has prosperity in all things, and who still has strength to enjoy food! 2O death, your sentence is acceptable to a man who is needy and who fails in strength, who is in extreme old age, is distracted about all things, is perverse, and has lost patience! 3Don’t be afraid of the sentence of death. Remember those who have been before you and who come after. This is the sentence from the Lord over all flesh. 4And why do you refuse when it is the good pleasure of the Most High? Whether life lasts ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years, there is no inquiry about life in Hades. 5The children of sinners are abominable children and they frequent the dwellings of the ungodly. 6The inheritance of sinners’ children will perish and with their posterity will be a perpetual disgrace. 7Children will complain of an ungodly father, because they suffer disgrace because of him. 8Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the Most High God! 9If you are born, you will be born to a curse. If you die, a curse will be your portion. 10All things that are of the earth will go back to the earth; so the ungodly will go from a curse to perdition. 11The mourning of men is about their bodies; but the evil name of sinners will be blotted out. 12Have regard for your name, for it continues with you longer than a thousand great treasures of gold. 13A good life has its number of days, but a good name continues forever. 14My children, follow instruction in peace. But wisdom that is hidden and a treasure that is not seen, what benefit is in them both? 15Better is a man who hides his foolishness than a man who hides his wisdom. 16Therefore show respect for my words; for it is not good to retain every kind of shame. Not everything is approved by all in good faith.

This passage from Sirach reflects on death and on legacy, and it gives a striking counsel about what endures: Have regard for your name, for it continues with you longer than a thousand great treasures of gold. A good life has its number of days, but a good name continues forever. Wealth passes; even life itself passes; but a good name, the passage says, endures, and is worth more than any amount of gold.

Notice the value the passage places on a good name over wealth. Treasures of gold, however great, do not last; they are left behind at death, and they cannot follow us. But a good name, a reputation of genuine integrity and goodness, endures beyond us, outlasting the wealth that seemed so solid. And so the passage counsels us to have regard for our name, to value our integrity and reputation, above the riches that cannot last.

That is a wise reordering of our priorities. We are prone to prize wealth, to give our energy to gaining treasures of gold, while giving less thought to the good name, the character and integrity, that outlasts all wealth. But gold passes, and a good name endures. Value your name, your integrity, your character, above the riches you might gain. Do not sacrifice a good name for wealth, or give your life to gaining treasures while neglecting the character that lasts. A good name is worth more than a thousand treasures of gold, and it endures when they are gone; care more for the integrity that leaves a good name than for the wealth that cannot last, and prize what endures above what passes.

Lord, this passage counsels me to have regard for my name, for it lasts longer than a thousand great treasures of gold; a good life has its number of days, but a good name endures. Reorder my priorities by that wisdom. I am prone to prize wealth, to give my energy to gaining treasures of gold, while giving less thought to the good name, the character and integrity, that outlasts all wealth. But gold passes, and a good name endures. Help me value my name, my integrity, my character, above the riches I might gain. Keep me from sacrificing a good name for wealth, or giving my life to gaining treasures while neglecting the character that lasts. A good name is worth more than a thousand treasures of gold, and it endures when they are gone. Help me care more for the integrity that leaves a good name than for the wealth that cannot last, and to prize what endures above what passes. Let me value the lasting over the fleeting.