What is Your Reputation Worth?

 Acts 18:8 (ESV) – Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

Most of us care what others think of us. There are some positions in society that are bestowed on those loved and respected by the majority. These always indicate real influence and usually come with power to make decisions on behalf of others. They sometimes come with significant financial remuneration, too. As synagogue leader, Crispus had a position like that. He was seen as the leader by the Jewish people of Corinth. He had probably dreamed of holding that position since he was a boy. He worked hard to show himself a trustworthy, credible leader. That must have been worth a great deal to him.

Then one day he heard something that he wanted even more. When Paul came to his city and told him and the rest of the synagogue about the life changing forgiveness and power and eternal life available through the long promised Messiah Jesus, he believed. Unfortunately, though, most of his Jewish friends did not. It was not that they just did not believe, they fought against Paul and those who chose to believe in Jesus (Acts 18:6, 12-17). Suddenly, Crispus found himself with a choice: Would he renounce the Christian message so he could hold onto his cherished position of influence in the community of his birth or would he give it all up to follow Jesus? He chose the latter.

Paul mentions Crispus’s faith and decision to believe and be baptized in a letter he wrote to his church a few years later (I Corinthians 1:14). He chose eternal life over popularity. It looks like his successor Sosthenes did, too, as he was beaten by his fellow Jews (Acts 18:17) then later traveled with Paul to Ephesus (I Corinthians 1:1) to help share that good news he received that was worth more to him than the accolades of the crowd. Whose approval do you value more?