The Lord has been speaking to me recently about honor. Our society outside and inside the church has moved away from honor and, as a result, we’ve limited ourselves to functioning below what God wants for us. God blesses those who honor Him and honor others. So, God wants us all, especially Faith Leaders, to understand honor and teach honor by precept and example because it’s an important topic to God. In this article, we will consider from whom and to whom honor should flow.
Defining Honor
Since honor has gone the way of the rotary phone for most people, let’s pause and think about what it means. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines the word this way: to revere, respect, treat with deference and submission; to reverence, to manifest the highest veneration for, in words and actions; to entertain the most exalted thoughts of, to worship; to adore; to dignify, raise to distinction or notice, elevate in rank or station; to exalt. Some of those definitions only apply to honoring God. For example, we don’t worship other people, nor do we offer any human the highest veneration, but we should respect them and treat them with deference (which means putting their needs above ours). Society may say, “honor is old-fashioned” because they’ve ignored it, but I believe God is telling Faith Leaders to revive a culture of honor within their organizations.
Honor Should Flow from Us to God
There should be no debate from Faith Leaders that God is worthy of honor. Many powerful Bible verses of worship include honor. For example, Revelation 4:11 says, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. I don’t care who you are, what your title is, or what situation you face today; God has not changed. He is worthy of honor.
The Greek word translated as honor in the New Testament is time, which means to highly esteem. Highly esteeming God means we prioritize our days around meeting with Him; we worship Him with all our hearts privately and publicly. We read His Word every day, and we obey His commands. God is our Creator, Healer, Father, Righteousness, and Shepherd. He is Alpha and Omega; there is none like Him. He is worthy of all glory, honor, and power.
Honor Flows from God to Us
1 Chronicles 29:11-12 gives us a different perspective on honor. It tells us honor comes from God to us: Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
Remembering the definition of honor, we note God raised mankind to distinction when He promised to send Jesus to redeem us from sin. In acknowledging their sinful nature, people often dismiss themselves as worthless, but God looked at each one and said, “I esteem them and love them so much, I will send my Son to die for them.” Jesus didn’t die for the fallen angels; He died for humanity. In Psalm 8, the angels asked God, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels. The Hebrew word is elohiym; it means God made man just a little lower than Himself. Psalm 8 continues, saying that God hast crowned him (man) with glory and honour. (Psalm 8:4-5). God honored Adam and Eve so highly as His creation that He made man the god of this world. Psalm 8:6 says, Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.
Honor Comes from Doing what God Called You to Do
Hebrews 2:9 tells us the Father crowned Jesus with honor when He fulfilled the Father’s plan. It reads, But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
So, Faith Leader, stay focused on what God has called you to do. Don’t run away, and don’t give up. You shall receive a reward of honor from the Father Himself!
Other Instructions About Honor
Although it’s rarely discussed, honor is a huge topic in the Bible. Here are a few other instructions about honor that every Faith Leader should know, teach, and practice.
• Husbands should honor their wives. (1 Peter 3:7)
• Faith Leaders should honor their elders in the ministry. (1 Timothy 5:17)
• Children should honor their parents. (Ephesians 6:2)
• Christians should honor one another. (Romans 12:10)
• Everyone should know how to control their bodies as vessels of honor. (1 Thessalonians 4:4)
Although honor has become passe in the world, let’s decide that as Faith Leaders, we will bring honor back to our homes, churches, places of business, and our communities.
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