Honor

Looking further into aspects of humility, I studied honor with the Youth and Young Adults groups.

By definition, honor is regarding something or someone as precious; reverence or respect.

We no longer live in a culture where most people are taught to honor others. Oh, we hear terms like "tolerance," but to merely put up with something someone does is not the same as honoring them.

Enjoy these discussion notes, based on the book, Honor's Reward by John Bevere.

Honor

*Before you can honor another, you must choose humility

Honor is to value; see as weighty and precious; to reverence and respect

You receive many blessings just by becoming a child of God through the acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  But, there are other blessings/rewards you only receive by honoring those God has appointed in your life.

Think about it like this:  just by being your parents’ child, you receive some things like a place to live, clothes to wear, and food to eat.  By honoring your parents, however, you can receive other privileges/rewards/blessings, such as driving a car, having a phone, or using your parent’s credit card.

By choosing humility and honor, you determine which rewards you receive.

Obviously, we know we should honor God above anyone else, but He has also set up a kingdom, not a democracy!  He has appointed leaders in positions of authority.  If you say you honor authority yet refrain from submission and obedience to it, you deceive yourself.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 13:1-2, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God.

Paul is referring to all areas of delegated authority (this is authority entrusted to another; people are God’s delegated authority on earth).  The New Testament speaks of 4 divisions of delegated authority: civil, social, family, and church. 

Here are some verses to give you an idea of what God expects of you in each area.  Note, however, that though we are told that all authority is of God, He doesn’t say that all authority is godly!

Harsh leaders will give an account to God, but those placed under their rule will be tested like David under Saul.  If they choose to honor, they will be rewarded!  It is profitable for us to honor the position and our Father who placed the leader there, even if we dislike them or disagree with them.  Also realize this though:  you are not required to obey a leader who is asking you to sin!

Civil Authority/Honor: (government)

Romans 13:3-7

3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

1 Peter 2:17

17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Social Authority/Honor: (employers, teachers, coaches, etc…)

(*These verses refer to the work we have to do)

1 Timothy 6:1

6 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.

Ephesians 6:5-8

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

Family Authority/Honor:

Ephesians 5:33

33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

1 Peter 3:7

7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Ephesians 5:22

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.

Titus 2:4-5

4 Then they (the older women) can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Psalm 127:3

3 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

(*The following two verses can be applicable in the other areas of delegated authority as well.  “Little ones” can mean children or newer believers in the faith.)

Matthew 18:6-7

6 If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

Matthew 18:10

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

Ephesians 6:2-3

2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Leviticus 20:9

9 “‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.  (Thank heaven for Jesus and grace!  God was pretty serious about this, wasn’t He?)

Proverbs 29:15

15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.

Church Authority/Honor:

Ephesians 4:11

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

Hebrews 13:17

17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

John 13:20

20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

Matthew 10:40-42

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Do you treat all people with dignity and respect (honor)?  God makes it clear in 1 Peter 2:17 that He indeed means all people. 

Do you find yourself criticizing, judging, or making fun of others…even if it is in your mind but you don’t say it aloud?  Or maybe you do say it aloud.   Do you gossip about others behind their back?  Do you repeat things you've heard and slander others?  Do you know that God says you will give an account for every idle word you speak? 

Do you make it a point to be a friend to those who others don’t deem worthy or are you too cool for that?  Do you exclude others from your circle? 

Do you do what authority asks of you with a happy and willing heart? 

Do you give honor where honor is due? 

Honor is displayed through submission (attitude) and obedience (action). 

Your honor determines your reward.

Isaiah 1: 17-20

17 Learn to do right; seek justice.  Defend the oppressed.  Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.  18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.”  For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.