Father's Day
Honor: The Highway to Success in God's Kingdom
In a world where disrespect and dishonor seem to be on the rise, it's crucial for believers to understand and embrace the biblical concept of honor. Far from being an outdated notion, honor is a powerful principle that can transform our relationships, elevate our spiritual lives, and align us with God's will. At its core, honor is about recognizing and expressing value. It's not just about respecting authority figures, but about cultivating a heart attitude that sees the worth in every person and position. As Romans 12:10 instructs us, we should "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." This call to honor goes beyond mere politeness – it's an active pursuit of building others up.
One of the most challenging aspects of honor is that it often requires us to look beyond a person's behavior or our personal feelings about them. Consider the biblical account of David and King Saul. Despite Saul's jealousy and attempts on David's life, David refused to harm "the Lord's anointed." He recognized the office and calling on Saul's life, even when Saul's actions were far from honorable. This teaches us a profound lesson: we can disagree with someone's choices or lifestyle without disrespecting their inherent value as a person created in God's image.
Honoring others isn't always easy, especially in our current cultural climate. We're bombarded with messages that encourage us to put ourselves first, to speak our minds without filter, and to tear down those we disagree with. But as followers of Christ, we're called to a higher standard. We're instructed to "Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king" (1 Peter 2:17). This applies even – perhaps especially – when it's difficult.
Consider how this plays out in various spheres of life:
In families: Children are called to honor their parents, not just when they're young, but throughout their lives. Husbands and wives are instructed to honor one another, treating each other as equal partners in God's gift of new life (1 Peter 3:7).
In the workplace: We're called to honor our employers and those in authority over us, not just when they're kind or fair, but even when they're harsh (1 Peter 2:18).
In government: Romans 13 instructs us to honor governing authorities, recognizing that they have been established by God. This doesn't mean blind obedience, but it does mean showing respect even when we disagree.
In the church: We're called to honor our spiritual leaders, recognizing the weight of their calling and responsibility (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).
But perhaps most importantly, we're called to honor God. This isn't just about our words or our worship services – it's about how we live our entire lives. We honor God with our bodies, recognizing that we are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We honor Him with our wealth, giving Him the first and best of our income (Proverbs 3:9-10). We honor Him with our choices, seeking His will above our own desires. When we truly grasp the importance of honor, it changes how we interact with the world around us. It leads us to see people as God sees them – not just for who they are now, but for who they have the potential to become in Christ. This perspective can open doors for ministry and relationship that might otherwise remain closed.
Consider the story shared about a coworker who identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community. By choosing to honor this person as a creation of God, while not condoning choices that went against biblical teaching, a relationship was built. This relationship ultimately led to an opportunity to share the gospel and pray for salvation. This is the power of honor – it creates space for God to work in ways we might never expect. Living a life of honor also positions us for God's blessing. The Bible is clear that there are rewards for those who honor God and others. Children who honor their parents are promised long life (Ephesians 6:2-3). Those who honor God with their wealth are promised overflowing provision (Proverbs 3:9-10). When we honor God's anointed leaders, we open ourselves up to receive through them (Matthew 10:41).
However, it's crucial to understand that true honor flows from a heart of humility and intimacy with God. We can't manufacture genuine honor through our own efforts – it must be cultivated through a close relationship with Jesus. As we spend time in His presence, His heart for people becomes our heart. We begin to see others through His eyes of love and compassion. Embracing a lifestyle of honor doesn't mean we become doormats or that we never speak truth. Jesus Himself demonstrated that we can speak truth boldly while still honoring the image of God in every person. The key is in our motivation and approach. Are we speaking out of a desire to elevate ourselves or tear others down? Or are we speaking truth in love, with a genuine desire to see others grow and flourish?
In a world that often seems to celebrate dishonor, choosing to live honorably can feel countercultural. But it's in this very contrast that the light of Christ can shine most brightly through us. When we choose to honor others – especially those who society might deem unworthy of honor – we reflect the heart of God in a powerful way.
As we conclude, let's challenge ourselves to cultivate honor in every area of our lives. Let's ask God to help us see people and situations through His eyes. Let's commit to honoring Him first and foremost, trusting that as we do, He will guide us in honoring others rightly. May we become known as people who "outdo one another in showing honor," pointing others to the ultimate source of honor – Jesus Christ Himself.
One of the most challenging aspects of honor is that it often requires us to look beyond a person's behavior or our personal feelings about them. Consider the biblical account of David and King Saul. Despite Saul's jealousy and attempts on David's life, David refused to harm "the Lord's anointed." He recognized the office and calling on Saul's life, even when Saul's actions were far from honorable. This teaches us a profound lesson: we can disagree with someone's choices or lifestyle without disrespecting their inherent value as a person created in God's image.
Honoring others isn't always easy, especially in our current cultural climate. We're bombarded with messages that encourage us to put ourselves first, to speak our minds without filter, and to tear down those we disagree with. But as followers of Christ, we're called to a higher standard. We're instructed to "Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king" (1 Peter 2:17). This applies even – perhaps especially – when it's difficult.
Consider how this plays out in various spheres of life:
In families: Children are called to honor their parents, not just when they're young, but throughout their lives. Husbands and wives are instructed to honor one another, treating each other as equal partners in God's gift of new life (1 Peter 3:7).
In the workplace: We're called to honor our employers and those in authority over us, not just when they're kind or fair, but even when they're harsh (1 Peter 2:18).
In government: Romans 13 instructs us to honor governing authorities, recognizing that they have been established by God. This doesn't mean blind obedience, but it does mean showing respect even when we disagree.
In the church: We're called to honor our spiritual leaders, recognizing the weight of their calling and responsibility (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).
But perhaps most importantly, we're called to honor God. This isn't just about our words or our worship services – it's about how we live our entire lives. We honor God with our bodies, recognizing that we are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We honor Him with our wealth, giving Him the first and best of our income (Proverbs 3:9-10). We honor Him with our choices, seeking His will above our own desires. When we truly grasp the importance of honor, it changes how we interact with the world around us. It leads us to see people as God sees them – not just for who they are now, but for who they have the potential to become in Christ. This perspective can open doors for ministry and relationship that might otherwise remain closed.
Consider the story shared about a coworker who identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community. By choosing to honor this person as a creation of God, while not condoning choices that went against biblical teaching, a relationship was built. This relationship ultimately led to an opportunity to share the gospel and pray for salvation. This is the power of honor – it creates space for God to work in ways we might never expect. Living a life of honor also positions us for God's blessing. The Bible is clear that there are rewards for those who honor God and others. Children who honor their parents are promised long life (Ephesians 6:2-3). Those who honor God with their wealth are promised overflowing provision (Proverbs 3:9-10). When we honor God's anointed leaders, we open ourselves up to receive through them (Matthew 10:41).
However, it's crucial to understand that true honor flows from a heart of humility and intimacy with God. We can't manufacture genuine honor through our own efforts – it must be cultivated through a close relationship with Jesus. As we spend time in His presence, His heart for people becomes our heart. We begin to see others through His eyes of love and compassion. Embracing a lifestyle of honor doesn't mean we become doormats or that we never speak truth. Jesus Himself demonstrated that we can speak truth boldly while still honoring the image of God in every person. The key is in our motivation and approach. Are we speaking out of a desire to elevate ourselves or tear others down? Or are we speaking truth in love, with a genuine desire to see others grow and flourish?
In a world that often seems to celebrate dishonor, choosing to live honorably can feel countercultural. But it's in this very contrast that the light of Christ can shine most brightly through us. When we choose to honor others – especially those who society might deem unworthy of honor – we reflect the heart of God in a powerful way.
As we conclude, let's challenge ourselves to cultivate honor in every area of our lives. Let's ask God to help us see people and situations through His eyes. Let's commit to honoring Him first and foremost, trusting that as we do, He will guide us in honoring others rightly. May we become known as people who "outdo one another in showing honor," pointing others to the ultimate source of honor – Jesus Christ Himself.
1 Comment
I just want to say I am so thankful for this series, The Code" and meditation Monday's
nI also want to Thank you for being a good shepard.