Hey, Carpool Crew! Happy Friday, day twenty-five of Proverbs for Your School Life. And today we're talking about the thing kids say about you when you're not in the room... because there is a thing, and you're building it every single day. I'm Pastor Justin, and before we jump in, let me give a big shout-out to Walker and Sadie out in Thurmont, Maryland. So glad you made it to Friday with us. And this episode is all about your name, the reputation kind. We're all building one. Let's jump in with the one thing I want you to remember for the ride: be the kid people can trust. Listen to this from Proverbs 22:1. "A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold." Solomon was one of the richest people who ever lived. Gold cups, gold shields, gold everything. And that guy says a good name is worth more than the whole pile. Popular is about who's watching. Trusted is about who's counting on you. Jesus said whoever is faithful with very little is also faithful with a lot. He watches the small stuff, and He is not bored by it. If Jesus were walking to the lockers with you, He would say, "Nobody claps for this kind of thing. I keep track of it anyway. Kids who keep their word are the kids I hand bigger things to." Monday, your friend loaned you his game cartridge and you said you'd bring it back Friday. It's Friday. It would be easy to milk one more weekend out of it, and honestly he might not even remember. You hand it over at the lockers before he asks: "I said I'd bring it back, so here it is." He barely looks up. "Oh. Cool." No fireworks. But stack up a hundred little scenes like that, and you become a certain kind of kid: the one who gets loaned the game, picked to hold the money, trusted with the class pet over break. Popular gets you noticed for a week. A good name gets you trusted for years. Hey, this weekend, here's the one thing you could try. Do one thing that builds the trustworthy version of your name: return what you borrowed, or do the thing you said you'd do, before anybody reminds you. And borrow the line word for word: "I said I would, so here it is." Hey, let's go back to that one thing I wanted you to remember for the ride. Be the kid people can trust. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, real quick. Tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus+, we're learning to notice the kid nobody notices, straight out of Proverbs 14:21. And Sunday, we're taking on "I'll help later" and learning to do the good you can do today. For less than the cost of a cup of coffee a month, your kids don't miss either one. Then Monday, all five episodes of our brand new Heroes of the Bible journey drop at once: Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. Subscribe right from the app you're already listening on. *(APPLE VERSION ONLY, swap for the coffee line above: "For less than the cost of a cup of coffee a month, your kids don't miss either one. And Apple Podcasts has the whole year for $34.99, which is about three months free. With five Solomon episodes dropping Monday, that's a good weekend to make the switch.")* Hey, before you go, let's answer this question together. What do you want kids at your school to say about you when you're not in the room? I'll see you tomorrow or next Monday on Carpooling with Jesus.
