Honour is defined as having great respect or high regard for someone. To treat with great courtesy and esteem. It’s far much simpler to honor someone that you see with your own eyes, as you can immediately read their reaction through body language even before you get a verbal response.
Imagine how much more intriguing it is to honor one who is not visible to the naked eye, yet sees you and knows you inside out! You can’t get away with faking anything in such a case!
How To Honor The LORD
The Lord our Father is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. Hence when it comes to honoring him, I believe it’s not only in word and deed but also in thought.
Jesus said in Matthew 22 regarding the greatest commandment “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” The mind is the realm that harbors thoughts which are intricately connected to your will and emotions.
To honour the Lord, there needs to be alignment of heart, soul and mind which as a result cause you to take actions that are congruent with the word of God. Any attempts to honour God out of this alignment will be deemed unacceptable and a dishonor to the Most High.
This is the reason why the Lord criticized the people of Jerusalem for they behaved in a pious manner and perhaps even prayed the right words, but only to be seen and heard by men – in the Lord’s eyes it was nothing more than lip service.
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught” Isaiah 29:13
It is crystal clear that this journey of honour starts from the heart. Your heart needs to be changed, from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh. One that will yield to the Holy Spirit of God and desires to honour the Lord and follow through in word and deed.
In word – by praising the Lord and exalting his name.
In deed –by what you do for God, others and to yourself.
Honor the Lord with your substance – tithes and offerings. Practice hospitality and generosity especially to those who have no means to repay you, and lastly avoid sexual immorality and learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable that pleases the Lord.
“You are worthy, our Lord and God to receive glory, honor and power for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelations 4:11
“Honor the Lord with your wealth; with the first fruits of all your crops; your barns will be filled to overflowing and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9 -10
“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God” Proverbs 14:31
“Do you not know that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” 1Corinthians 6:19-20
Honor Your Parents
God places special emphasis on how to treat parents and even gives promises that can be claimed. Honoring parents also encompasses conduct toward them and offerings/gifts given to them.
“Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you” Exodus 20:12
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth” Ephesians 6:1
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and teachers of the law for breaking the Lords commands on honoring parents for the sake of their own traditions.
“For God said, “Honor your father and mother”…But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father and mother is ‘devoted to God’ they are not to honor their father and mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your traditions.” Matthew 15:4
Honoring Others
Jesus said that the second greatest commandment is like the first. “To Love your neighbor as yourself.” I’m yet to find a person who loves his right arm and despises the left one, or loves his left ear and despises the other on the right. You are to love yourself and then with that same love apply it to others. This is not to be confused with self-absorbed ‘me, myself and I’ kind of love, but rather a healthy appreciation of who you are in Christ.
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil and cling to good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the LORD. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:9-13
Who Receives Honor?
The word shows how one can receive honor from fellow man; by being humble and kind hearted.
“A kindhearted woman gains honor but ruthless men gain only wealth.” Proverbs 11:16
Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, Humility comes before honor” Proverbs 15:33
“Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, whoever heeds correction is honored” Proverbs 13:18
“The wise inherit honor but fools get only shame” Proverbs 3:35
God Honors His Servants
Scripture tells us that the Lord is wonderfully faithful and also shows honor to his fellow servants.
When King David was settled in his palace he desired to build a house for the Lord, but the All compassionate Father had other plans. In his infinite wisdom and grace, he sent word to David through Prophet Nathan that David’s son would have this noble task done and that the Lord would never take his love away from him as he did his predecessor (Saul).
As a reward, the Lord declared that he would establish the kingdom within David’s family lineage and it would remain forever. This prophecy came to pass through his son King Solomon and later through Jesus Christ who is King of Kings and his throne reigns to eternity!
In response to this David went in to the tent and sat before the Lord and said:
“Who am I,LORD God and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, LORD God have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men. What more can David say to you for honoring your servant?” 1 Chronicles 17:16-18
Kind David is one of those who honored The Lord faithfully and the Lord in turn also honored him.
The Lord is Holy and Merciful worthy for all honor, he is also righteous and just and gives honour to his servants who are faithful to his word and honor the Lord.
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