Names and titles provide examples of what is possible and demonstrations of how to obtain it

Some seek names and titles from God to inflate their ego or improve how others treat them. Authentic names and titles from God always come with an increased sense of one’s nothingness,¹ and are more likely to result in others hating you² rather than loving you.³ God’s names and titles aren’t a pathway to greater honor than you deserve. While worldly appellations are often given for reasons other than merit,⁴ those given by God are only ever given in truth and justice. God will never describe you as something you aren’t, suggest you could be something you can’t become, or promise you something you can’t obtain.

God’s names and titles aren’t a way to extract more from others. Those in the world seek names and titles to increase the honor and privileges they receive from other people, but those in the kingdom of God receive names and titles in relation to increases in how much they provide to others. Christians tend to pursue their faith as a way to increase what they receive from God, even though Jesus said that the way to do this was to increase what you give to others.⁵

Because they are rooted in present or potential reality, God-given appellations distinguish one person from another. They enumerate the differences between people who might otherwise be indistinguishable. In the world today, pointing out the differences between individuals is seen as exceedingly rude, if not a gross moral violation. However, intentional improvement is impossible without first identifying the

difference between how things are and how you would like them to be, and identifying the differences between two individuals is necessary in order for one to intentionally change to be more like the other. Names and titles describing past achievements call others to consider possibilities beyond their present achievements and to rise up to obtain the same.

The glory of God can never be received outside of actually becoming more like him, so every honor given by God reveals some additional aspect about him, both to the recipient and those who interact with him or her. Those who have lived up to the designations given by God provide an example of the character qualities and decisions needed for anyone else to do the same. Anyone fulfilling the role described by any name or title becomes worthy of it because God is impartial in how he treats us.¹⁴⁴⁴ You seek and receive the God-given appellations possessed by others by seeking and living their character qualities and living your life the way they have.¹⁴⁴⁵