HONOR

Let's first define the word "honor. "

hon·or

ˈänər/

noun

1. high respect; esteem.

"his portrait hangs in the place of honor"

synonyms:distinction, recognition, privilege,glory, kudos, cachet, prestige, merit,credit; More

2. a privilege.

"the great poet of whom it is my honor to speak tonight"

synonyms:privilege, pleasure, pride, joy; More

verb

1. regard with great respect.

"Joyce has now learned to honor her father's memory"

synonyms:esteem, respect, admire, defer to, look up to; More

2. fulfill (an obligation) or keep (an agreement).

"make sure the franchisees honor the terms of the contract"

synonyms:fulfill, observe, keep, obey, heed,follow, carry out, discharge,implement, execute, effect.

Honor is not earned, honor is freely given. Proverbs15:33 says "Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor." You cannot demand honor but you can choose to give it even when it is not reciprocated. In fact if you look at Proverbs 15:33 again you would notice that humility preceeds honor. We also find the same pattern in Proverbs 18:12 where it says; Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. Isn't that interesting? Humility first, then honor! Honor is given not based upon your age, your experience, titles earned, but rather upon how God sees us. When we honor people's gifts and callings rather than their flesh we have a much greater appreciation for them because that's how God sees them. When we look at the flesh then that taints our view of the person and that causes us to put them into a box in our thinking toward them. 2 Corinthians 5:16 tells us "So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!"

Look at Matthew 10:4 If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. Both prophet and righteous men are mentioned in this verse. I believe that the prophet is representing the "five fold ministry" in Ephesians 4:11 and the"righteous man" in this verse represents the body of Christ or the church. The point is that, as you honor people in the ministry or in the pew, you recieve back that same honor that you are giving out.

Sometimes we confuse honor with recognition. When we demand recognition because we are feeling dishonored, we can easily be offended. If we don't honor ourselves, then it's going to be very difficult to give honor to others. When you look in the mirror today, take a good look at rely man or woman of God, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. You are anointed, gifted and called so walk in honor of this knowledge. Then when you walk out your door and see others, give them the same honor by seeing them as God sees them. Learn to become an honorable person.--by Pastor Randall Burton

All scripture is taken from the New Living Translation