A.Keynote Scripture: Romans 13:7 – "Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”
B.Honor is an often neglected topic that needs our attention.
1.Honor is esteem and respect. It is shown in words and gestures that express regard and value.
2.Too often, honor as viewed as needless formality that is no longer relevant in our informal culture.However, honor and formality are not the same things, and there is still a prominent place for honor in our world today.
3.The sheer volume of Bible passages that address honor proves that honor is never outmoded.It is always the responsibility of God’s people to practice honor as a way of life.
C.With this lesson, let us turn back to honor and make it a core part of who we are as servants of Christ.
II.SHOWING HONOR TO OTHERS
A.Our foremost responsibility is to honor God – Father, Son, and Spirit.
1.God is worthy of all honor in heaven and on earth."Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1Tim. 1:17; see 1Tim. 6:16; Rev. 4:9, 11; 5:12-13; 7:12)
2.The honor of the Father is inseparable from the honor of Christ."He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” (John 5:23)
3.We must honor God with genuine service and sacrifice."Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce.” (Prov. 3:9)
4.Honor for God must be sincere and not merely by words. "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.” (Matt. 15:8; see Isa. 29:13)
B.Next to honor for God, no honor is more important than honor for parents.
1."Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.” (Eph 6:1-3; see Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16)
2.By keeping the "first commandment with a promise,” our lives are providentially benefited.Consider how much Americans are suffering now because we have forsaken this sacred commandment through disobedient children and irresponsible adults who don’t care for their elderly parents (see 1Tim. 5:4, 8).
3.Failure to honor parents is failure to honor God (Matt. 15:1-9).
C.Honor is a key component of godly marriage.
1.Each husband and wife is to practice honor in his or her own marriage (consider the typical wedding vows), and all Christians are to give honor to the godly institution of marriage (Gen. 1:28; 2:18-24; Eph. 5:22-33)."Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” (Heb. 13:4)
2.Husbands are specifically commanded to give honor to their wives."You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” (1Pet. 3:7)
3.Consider how many problems would be solved in America if marriage was given its due honor: divorce, adultery, fornication, unwed births, abortion, homosexuality, etc.
D.Honor is to be practiced in the Lord’s church.
1.We honor our fellow Christians by giving them devoted, loving service."Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.” (Rom. 12:10)
2.Elders of the local church are to be given "double honor” in the form of respect and monetary support if they are devoted to preaching."The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.” (1Tim. 5:17)
3.Qualified widows are to be honored as dependents of the local church."Honor widows who are widows indeed.” (1Tim. 5:3)
E.Consider some other categories of persons who are to be honored.
1.The elderly are to be honored in connection with the honor shown unto God."You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.” (Lev. 19:32)
2.Servants are to honor their masters with respect toward God, which to Americans applies to employees and their employers."All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against.” (1Tim. 6:1)
3.Honor is to be extended to all people, including "the king,” which applies for us to civil authorities."Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” (1Pet. 2:17)
4.We are even to honor ourselves by treating our own bodies with honor."…that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor” (1Thess. 4:4; see 1Cor. 6:19)
F.Honor is not to be given to fools.
1.A fool is an ungodly person who has denied God."The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; there is no one who does good.” (Psa 14:1; see also Ps. 53:1; Rom. 1:21)
2.Fools dishonor themselves by their own behavior."The wise will inherit honor, but fools display dishonor”. (Prov. 3:35; see Prov. 20:3; Rom. 1:21-32)
3.Therefore, we must not honor fools.
a."Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.” (Prov. 26:1)
b."Like one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.” (Prov. 26:8)
4.Unfortunately, many fools are honored in our nations (Hollywood actors, vile musicians, etc.)
III.BEING HONORABLE
A.Those who honor God by service and obedience will be honored by God.
1.When the priest Eli honored his sons above God by abusing the sacrifices, God said, "Those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed.” (1Sam. 2:30)
2.Service to Jesus Christ will result in honor from the Father.Jesus said, "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:26)
B.Humility will garner honor from others.
1."The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility.” (Prov. 15:33)
2."Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor.” (Prov. 18:12)
3."The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor and life.” (Prov. 22:4)
4."A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.” (Prov. 29:23)
C.Consider a few other traits that lead to honor.
1.Wisdom – "Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.” (Prov. 3:16; see also Prov. 4:8; 8:18)
2.Willingness to accept reproof – "Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline, but he who regards reproof will be honored.” (Prov. 13:18)
3.Righteousness and loyalty – "He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor.” (Prov. 21:21)
4.Doing good – "…to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life…but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Rom. 2:7, 10)
5.Purity – "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2Tim. 2:21)
IV.CONCLUSION
A.In a culture that often celebrates dishonorable behavior, Christians must stand out as examples of honor.
1.The way we carry ourselves, the words we use, the deeds we do, and the respect we show to others must exude honor.
2.All of these behaviors and attitudes arise from the knowledge that all men are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27).Therefore, all men should be honorable themselves and should honor one another.
B.Does honor have its proper place in our lives, in our families’ lives, and in the church?If not, then we need to repent and restore honor everywhere that it belongs.
