Reputation or Riches? Ecclesiastes 7-8

Ecclesiastes 7:1 (ESV Strong's)
A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.

Reputation or Riches?

Solomon is said to be the riches man in the world during his time.  God said it:

1 Kings 10:23 (ESV Strong's)
Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.

Dollar for dollar, Solomon is probably the richest man that ever walked the earth.   Current billionaires would all take a back seat to Solomon.   Yet, in the above verse, Solomon gives us a truth that our reputation (what people think about us when they hear our name), is more important than riches.   The second line (the day of death is better than the day of birth), is calling us to realize (in the context of our name) that a birth is simply exciting because you were born.   You have not done anything, yet.   At your death your entire life is behind you.  So, the walk you take from brith to death is more valuable than the birth itself.   We are all happy at the birth of a baby and want to know his/her name.    But the name means little to us.   At death, however, the name of the deceased conjures up memories of their life.   That is meaningful.   What we do in life is our reputation.  When others hear our name what do they think?  Solomon is telling us that our reputation is more important than all the riche we can possess.  Do they think of us as a kingdom walker?  Or, do they see us as a rich man with money?    Our walk reflects our heart and our heart is our reputation.