Honor
It is a joy to daily honor our Heavenly Father!
For those who honor Me I will honor.
1 Samuel 2:30 (NKJV)
Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ.
Colossians 3:23-25 (MSG)
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Honor
Written by Billy Joe Daugherty
God wants to honor you, but if you refuse to honor the things and people God honors, you will forfeit the honor He wants to bring into your life.
…Those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
(1 Sam. 2:30)
God wants to honor you, but if you refuse to honor the things and people God honors, you will forfeit the honor He wants to bring into your life—respect, promotion, increase, and opportunities.
Galatians 6:7 says, "Do not be deceived. God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." If you sow honor into the lives of others, you will reap honor.
The movie Chariots of Fire was about a young man from Scotland who ran in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. After qualifying as the United Kingdom's representative for the 100-meter dash, he found out that this race was to be run on Sunday. As a devout Christian, he refused to run on the Lord's Day. He wanted his victory to be for the glory of God. Since he was the fastest runner in the world at that time, he would have won the Gold Medal. Great pressure was put upon him to run on Sunday, but he refused.
Another young man from the United Kingdom was to run a 400-meter race on another day. He had already won a Gold Medal, so he offered his spot in this race to Eric Liddell. Eric accepted, ran the 400-meter, and won the gold medal.
Before the race, a young Christian from America handed Eric a note. On it was scribbled, "1 Samuel 2:30, …'Those who honor Me I will honor.'"
In 1981, Chariots of Fire won the Academy Award for Best Picture. The story of Eric Liddell was told all over the world. He was honored for his commitment to God. You, too, can honor God by refusing to compromise your commitment to Him.
DECLARATION OF FAITH
I am honoring the Lord by obeying His Word. I am honoring those in positions of authority. God's honor comes to me because of the honor I have given Him.
Live A Life Of Honor
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:1-4
The Bible teaches honor all the way through even though the word "honor" isn't always used, as in this passage from 2 Peter, which speaks of Honor God's divine nature and His precious promises.
What is honor?
The world defines it in many ways, but we will define "honor" as a keen sense of ethical conduct. Honor is often used to refer to one's word being given as a guarantee. It is personal integrity. Honor and honest are related.
They are often used to refer to those who fear the Lord. In many Bible references fear means reverence. We fear, or reverence, or highly honor God by living life as He directs. God has promised that if we will do that, if we will honor Him and act on His Word, He will honor us. (1 Sam. 2:30.) A common problem is that many of us have not believed His Word or believed for the blessings promised in His Word.
For instance, we have not understood what Jesus meant when He said for us to turn the other cheek. (Matt. 5:39.) He was not talking about weakness; He was talking about meekness.
Such scriptures are not referring to our being weak. They are referring to our being submitted to God and committed to doing what He says, whether it looks good to us or not. That is doing the honorable thing. We must learn to put aside our own feelings and human reasonings and just be obedient to the Lord. Jesus was telling us that if we will turn the other cheek in meekness and in the power of the honor of God, we cannot be hit again.
Even though a person turns his other cheek, if he stands on the Word and in the Word, the devil will have a hard time getting through to hit him the second time. In order to do this, however, an individual has to know in Whom he has believed. He has to have faith and trust in the honor of God and in His divine integrity.
If you and I know how to walk in honor before God, we don't have to be afraid of anyone. We don't have to fear what men can do to us. The Lord has promised that if we will honor Him and be obedient to His Word, He will honor us and protect us from all our enemies.
Honesty and Honor Go Together
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1 Peter 2:11,12
Where do we get the word "honest"? If you will study the way this word developed, you will see that it is related to honor. Honor, honesty and truth are closely related concepts. Peter is saying here, "Let your conversation—your manner of life—be honorable among the Gentiles." Among the Jews of Peter's day the word "Gentiles" was used to refer to nations or people without God. If you study the book of Ephesians, you will see that at one time you and I were Gentiles, but now we who were afar off have been brought near to God by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. (Eph. 2:13.)
This passage is talking about the way we should act toward those who don't know God. Our honorable manner of life, our living honestly among the Gentiles, is important. Oh, how important it is. Let just one or two preachers get in trouble and suddenly all preachers have trouble because of the way a few "Christian" ministers have lived their lives and conducted their business. Instead of walking in honor before the Gentiles, these few have disgraced and damaged all believers.
We need to understand what God intends for us to do and what we can expect of Him. Expect of Him? Yes, we expect of Him. If we don't expect something from God when we act on the Word, all we are doing is just making a tradition out of it. We are doing things because someone said we are supposed to do it instead of because God said it and we're acting on His Word.
We must learn to walk honestly before the Gentiles, so they will behold our good works and glorify our heavenly Father.
Submit to God-Ordained Authority
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the
king.
1 Peter 2:13-17
We are not to use our freedom to hide from what we do wrong. We don't use our power or reputation to take advantage of someone. We must not use our position and the respect due us as a preacher of the gospel or as a child
of God to defraud anyone. Some do, though, and it reflects badly on all of us—and on the Church of Jesus Christ.
Honor Your Masters
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1 Peter 2:18,19
The Amplified Bible says verse 17 this way: "Show respect for all men—treat them honorably...."
Servants—employees—be subject to your bosses with all honor.
In verse 17 of this chapter we are told to fear God. If you look up the Greek word translated fear, you will find that it relates to reverence. We are to reverence the Lord. In the same way, in verse 18 we are told to fear or reverence or give due respect and honor to our masters—our employers.
We know this is true because it is verified in other scriptures. The writings of Paul say the same thing. He wrote to young Timothy:
Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed (1 Tim. 6:1).
Notice that we are to give reverence and honor not only to the good bosses and the gentle masters but also to the "froward." The word froward means disobedient or ugly. Even though the boss is not good, not gentle, not obedient to God, we
are to honor him. We are under obligation to treat him with honor and respect, even though he may treat us with dishonor and disrespect. To do this is "thankworthy." The New International Version translates
this word as commendable. However, thankworthy is an old King James word that is so strong, so powerful in the way it is used. We need to bring it back into our vocabulary. It is thankworthy if a man, for the sake of conscience toward God, endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
If you will treat with honor a dishonorable boss or superior, you will find favor with God. Of course, you don't have to stay there unless God tells you to but as long as you work for him, be subject to him. Walk in love. Love never fails. Treat him with honor just as you would if he were good and gentle, even though he is disobedient to God. This is thankworthy, worthy of thanks from God.
In this passage, God is saying to us: "I want to thank you for representing Me there on earth the way I really am, instead of the way the world thinks I am. I want to thank you for looking and acting like Jesus. Don't worry about the one who is abusing or mistreating you. I will take care of him."
If your superior is absolutely beyond help, the Lord may move you out of that situation; but most likely, you will be an influence on him, and you may even win him to the Lord. It's imperative for you to believe God, and then act like you believe.
You must believe and show your honoring of that belief.
Honor Produces or Generates Honor
We must honor God by living life as He has directed—every day! This means honoring those above us, being subject to them. If your superiors mistreat you, crying and moaning won't help. If you keep crying, "They don't like me," then they won't. There really is no reason for them to like you. They don't know God, and you are acting like you don't either.
You are a man or woman of honor. What do you do when someone cheats you out of your vacation or your overtime pay or your rightful promotion? You say: "Lord, You know what's happening here. I'm being treated unjustly. You know it, I know it, and they know it. I just turn this situation over to You. You handle it any way You want."
Then a strange thing will happen: In the end, you will come out ahead. How will that happen? By honoring God and then living in His honor and by your own honesty.
There is nothing that we can't accomplish in honor, in God's honor.
There is no place we can't go, no goal we can't reach—if we keep an honorable attitude.
Keep an Honorable Attitude
Christian people can have bad attitudes sometimes. Some can even be so upright and uptight that they don't live honorably, even when they think they are. It is our job to stay walking in the love of God. This is where God will honor us no matter what the situation may be.
Holding Faith and a Good Conscience
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
1 Timothy 1:18-20
We are to hold faith and a good conscience. If we put away our faith, we will put away our conscience. The Apostle Paul tells us that ...whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom. 14:23). You may say, "I don't need that faith stuff." Yes, you do.
When somebody announces that he is going to preach on the faith of God, don't say, "I've heard all that before." Go hear it again. Just because you ate breakfast in 1984 doesn't mean that you don't need to have breakfast today. You have to eat every morning. You probably eat the same thing over and over, day after day, year after year. If you are an oatmeal eater, imagine how much oatmeal you have eaten. If you like eggs for breakfast, we would have to line up chickens from wall to wall to get all the eggs you have eaten over the last 20 or 30 years. Yet you don't say, "I don't want to eat eggs; I've already eaten them once." You eat the same things again and again. Why? Because the end of proper eating is a healthy body. The end of proper spiritual nourishment is a healthy conscience or spirit man. The end of an honorable life is abundant and eternal life. It comes from living in faith.
Stay Away and Avoid Worthless, Foolish Talkers
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker (one translation says "cancer"): of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2 Timothy 2:15-19
I like the NLT bible version:
15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. 17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. 18 They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith. 19 But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”
2 Timothy 2:15-19
In this passage we are told to avoid those who babble all the time, who tell lies, who have their conscience seared to the place that it shipwrecks their lives. We have seen this take place in all different kinds of ministry and churches. It has come to the attention of the entire world. This kind of thing has been happening in the Body of Christ among Charismatic people, among Word of Faith people, in epidemic proportions. It is an attack of the devil. He intends to destroy us. Honorable people do not lie.
Vessels of Honor and Dishonor
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2 Timothy 2:20
Notice, in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earth. Some to honor, some to dishonor. Which are we? How do we choose or determine which we will be? We Are Vessels of Honor.
If a man therefore purge himself from these (faults, sins), he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:21,22
How do you become a vessel of honor? By purging yourself. By conducting your life in honor and humility. By fleeing from youthful lusts and following after righteousness, faith, love and peace with all those who call on the Lord out of a pure—and honest—heart.
We Honor God’s Words
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
James 1:22-25 - New Living Translation
If you are honoring God, you will treat your boss like you should—not because it's your religion, but because it's the honorable thing to do. You won't act any other way, because you know what the Word of God says to do.
When you live by the Word of God and will of God, you are living the honorable life.
We are serious about you.
Contacts us, we want to pray for you. God has a great things ahead for you.