Does Your Reputation Matter?

Should you care what others think about you? In these verses Paul deals with his considerations of his reputation, in knowledge of criticisms levelled against him, and in light of his paramount desire to be approved by God.
1 What really matters: "we are made manifest unto God"
2 When it matters: "only insofar as is for the advantage of the Church" (John Calvin).
3 Why it matters: love to Christ constrains Paul to consider the interest of the Lord's people.
Application 1. In the Church: we must train ourselves to think about others. 2. Its use in the workplace. 3. What is a Christan? One who lives not to themselves but unto Christ. 4. the nature of the atonement settles its extent. It is effective for all who live unto Christ. 5. Two things to keep in mind: 1) In Christ we are dead to all personal ambition and honour among men 2) we owe to Christ our life. 6. A theological reason: Christ lived in the flesh, died, rose again and ascended into heaven, whither we are going; we do not need to judge as those who know only the flesh.