READ
REFLECT
The modern world would have us believe that honor is an outdated principle. Today, many people do not honor their partners. Instead, open relationships, where people have multiple partners, are accepted and normalized by mainstream culture. In addition, honor for our parents or previous generations may be labeled by the mainstream as unethical because their views don’t fit what is culturally acceptable.
In today’s world, many people honor things like money, prestige, attention on social media. As Christians, we know that these aren’t the right things to honor.
We are taught to honor our spouses. Hebrews 13:4 reads, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Further, the 5th Commandment tells us to “honor our fathers and mothers so that we may live long in the land.”
How seriously do we take honor? Are we honoring our partners? Do we honor deals that make in our professional lives and our friendships? Do we honor our word? If we were to do a personal evaluation of ourselves, could we honestly say that we are honorable? These are important things to think about.
When we look to honor others and be honorable, we are draw nearer to God. John 12:26 teaches us what we get in return for practicing a higher concept of honor. “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” You heard that right. The reward is that God will honor us. Nothing in the modern world can compare to such a prize.
RESPOND
- Commit Proverbs 21:21 to memory.
- Write down one thing you can do to better honor Christ.
