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Honor

Wayne Galloway
08/11/24 - Sunday Morning Worship

Honor

 

Introduction:

 

1.  “Honor” is a term frequently used in Scripture.

2.  We are to honor our father and mother (Ex. 20:12).  We are to rise up before the gray-headed and honor the aged (Lev. 19:32).  The Lord said, “Those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed” (1 Sam. 2:30).  We are to honor widows (1 Tim. 5:3), all men (1 Pet. 2:17), and the king (1 Pet. 2:17).  Wives are to be granted honor (1 Pet. 3:7).  Elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor (1 Tim. 5:17).  We are to conduct ourselves honorably in all things (Heb. 13:18).  And in the throne scene in Rev. 4 the twenty-four elders cast their crowns before the throne of God saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and Our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created” (10-11).

3.  All of these passages praise righteous living and making good decisions that can be praised by God.  But not everyone values the same things.  The Pharisees loved the chief seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplace and being called Rabbi, butwere motivated by the praise of men (Matt. 23:5ff).  They valued the praise of men more than the praise of God.  They valued their traditions more than the commandment of God (Matt. 15:2ff).  So, honor is extended depending on the values of the community with which we are identified.  The Cincinnati Reds baseball team honors a good pitcher; the Cincinnati Bengals football team more highly esteems a good quarterback.

4.  Honor is a rather complicated concept.  It is determined based on what we value.  Our group association affects our values and honors or dishonors us accordingly.

5.  What values are honorable based on what is biblically revealed?  How do these values differ from those of the world?  Are we honoring the right values?  Are we identified with a community that values what God values?

 

Discussion:

 

I.  The world often values and therefore honors things that God does not value, nor honor.

 

    A.  The world honors such things as beauty, status, wealth, power, athleticism, 

          education.  God honors such things as a good heart, humility, kindness, doing 

          good, generosity, strength in the Lord, wisdom from above.

    B.  Examples of such contrasts abound in Scripture.

          1.  When Israel sought a king to be like the nations around them it was observed 

               that Saul was a choice and handsome man, a mighty man of valor (wealth or 

               influence), taller than any of the people (1 Sam. 9:1-2).

          2.  Later, after Saul proved unworthy God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to 

               anoint a new king.  Samuel looked at Jesse’s son, Eliab, Jesse’s oldest (1 

               Sam. 17:28).  Surely, he was the one, thought Samuel.  But God said, “Do             

               not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have 

               rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward 

               appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).  Seven sons were 

               rejected.  Ruddy David, the youngest, who was tending sheep, beautiful eyes 

               and handsome appearance was chosen.

         3.  In the ancient world the first-born had status.

         4.  The group that you belonged to gave you some status.   When Saul was 

              anointed king he said, “Am I not a Benjaminite, of the smallest tribes of Israel 

              and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?” (1 Sam. 

              9:21).

         5.  Status was important, even among the disciples (Matt. 20:20ff; Mk. 10:35ff;

              Lk. 22:24ff).  Children had no status, but Jesus received them (Mk. 10:13ff;

              Lk. 22:26-27).  Matt. 18:3-4:  “Unless you are converted and become like 

              children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever then humbles 

              himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  While the 

              world honors status, God honors service.  While the world honors wealth, 

              God honors generosity (1 Tim. 6:17-19).

         6.  God takes things that the world thinks are wise and turns them upside down 

              (1 Cor. 1:26-31).  

 

II.  Sometimes honor is ascribed; sometimes honor is earned.

 

    A.  Jacob ascribed honor to Joseph symbolized by the special coat he gave him 

         (Gen. 37:3-4).  He was the child of the preferred wife, Rachael.  Paul reminded 

         the Jewish Sanhedrin about his ascribed honor (Acts 22:3-5).  The honor of the 

         firstborn was ascribed.  The kings were anointed with oil as a way of ascribing 

         honor to them.  Saul was of lowly tribe and family.  David was not the firstborn.   

         When God ascribes honor it is not because it is deserved.  He honors us as His 

         children ascribing to us the honor associated with being in His family.

    B.  Honor can be earned by behavior consistent with community values.

          1.  David was honored by the people for his military prowess after defeating 

              Goliath.  The women sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten 

              thousands” (1 Sam. 18:7-8).  While David was an expert with a sling Scripture 

               honors him for trusting the Lord.  He said, “The Lord who delivered me from 

               the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the 

               hand of the Philistine” (1 Sam. 17:37).

          2.  Paul was honored both by reason of honor ascribed and by his behavior by 

               his original peers (Phil. 3:4-6).  Once he became a Christian he changed the 

               group that honored his behavior (Acts 9:26-30).  

 

III.  What can we glean from what we have considered?  

 

     A.  We began our study with these questions.

          1.  What values are honorable based on what is biblically revealed?

          2.  How do these values differ from the values of the world?

          3.  Are we honoring the right values?

          4.  Are we identified with a community that values what God values?

     B.  We have observed that the values of the world are different than the values of 

          God. 

     C.  Different groups honor the values that they hold dear and thus honor those who 

          hold to those same values.  When our values change, we may have to change 

          groups to be honored.

     D.  We need to be valuing the things that God values, honoring those that value the 

          things God values, being honored by those who value the things that God 

          values.

 

Conclusion:

 

1.  God has honored you with the sacrifice of His Son.

2.  He ascribes you honor by inviting you into His family.

3.  Would you join His communion and honor those who honor Him?

4.  Will you honor Him with your devotion?