Honour means to demonstrate high respect or great esteem for someone. By honoring another you are saying you see great value in them.
Types of Honour
The three types of honor are bad honor, good honor, and eternal honor. People use the same word “honour” for all three, and this causes confusion. Failing to note the three kinds of honor affects our discipleship and theology.
Bad Honor
“Bad honor” is when people are respected for the wrong reasons. Everybody can sense the difference between the “honor” of (1) a corrupt official with an entourage and Land Cruiser and (2) a wise, gray-haired elder in the village. People acknowledge the “status” of the official out of fear rather than genuine respect.
Common biblical terms for such honor are “pride” (when ascribed to self) or “idolatry” (the false worship ascribed to others). The Bible has many examples:
• King Nebuchadnezzar forced everyone to worship him, and many did, but that honor was fleeting (Daniel 4). Bad honor is a defining characteristic of “Babylon” throughout the Bible.
• Eli and sons honored themselves by keeping the preferred sacrifices, but at the expense of despising God – 2 Samuel 2:30
• Jesus told the Pharisees to not seek the places of honor at a feast, lest they be humiliated. Luke 14:7-8
• Paul said of his opponents, “their glory is their shame” Phil 3:19
Good Honor
The Bible speaks positively about being an honorable person in the eyes of other people. In certain ways, Christians should seek to be honorable before people.
• “Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge” – 1 Peter 2:12
• Paul took pains to do “what is kalos [i.e., beautiful, proper, good], not only in the eyes of the Lord but in the eyes of man” 2 Corinthians 8:21
• The book of Proverbs contains many verses about earning a “good name” or “honor” for wise living. Good honor is a part of God’s common grace for people who live wisely and respect others (Proverbs 12:8; 13:18; 15:33; 21:21; 22:4; 27:18).
• Being an honorable and respectable person in the community is a key qualification of leaders in the local church (1 Timothy 3:7-8, 11).
Eternal Honor
There are five heavenly crowns mentioned in the New Testament that will be awarded to believers. They are the imperishable crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory, and the crown of life.
Proverbs 21:21
The Dimensions to honour
The vertical dimension of honour
Vertical upwards
⁃ Honour For God
1 Tim 1:17, Psalm22:23, Mal 3:10
⁃ Honour for parents.
For example, whether we had fantastic parents or not so fantastic ones, we are told to honor them (Exodus 20:12).
⁃ Honour for those in authority
We are also told to honor those in authority (Romans 13:1-7). Yes, even if we disagree with their politics.
⁃ Honour for the elderly
Others we are specifically commanded to honor in Scripture include the elderly (Leviticus 19:32), our church leaders (1 Timothy 5:17) and God (Psalm 22:23).
Vertical downwards
⁃ The reward for honour – God honours those who honour Him (1 sam 2:30)
⁃ Prov 22.4 Honouring God results in riches and honour and life
⁃ 22:4
The lower portion of the cross is long- thus it signifies
⁃ process and diligence : it takes more to receive this honour
⁃ You cannot pretend your way into this honour
⁃ This honour as a result of your heart condition.
The reward for honour
– God honours those who honour Him. 1 Samuel 2:30
⁃ Honouring God results in riches and honour and life
“By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, and honour, and life.” Proverbs 22:4 KJV
Horizontal dimensions of honour
Romans 12:10 says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Contrary to most competitions, this game is won by lifting others up, not ourselves. Our goal is to help others be successful.
Shalom! Rev. Ron.
Virtuous Living 